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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is big service.

Sport England approximates the value of spending on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

Which figure is likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall global gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports gaming.

But when the stability of events are hit the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under threat if customers can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt’s Gareth Moore observes: “Everyone discuss the sports betting market now.

“Not just is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing accusations connecting to a test versus England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these players have stated they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted against the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, however was prohibited recently for six months for failing to report the unlawful technique to him to throw frames.

There are also 2 other continuing examinations – unrelated to Mr Higgins – into snooker.

‘Honest’

David O’Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK’s most significant online sporting exchanges.

“If the sport is viewed as truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering firms due to the fact that individuals will spend cash betting with self-confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed betting industry … it is not actually a favorable story for betting in the UK.

“That is due to the fact that the understanding is that ‘cricket is now something we might have to beware about’.”

‘Education’

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to specialists at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation explains: “The only individuals who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee.”

His organisation represents guys and women in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association.

He believes that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with potential concerns around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

“Through informing gamers about sports betting you reinforce stability and that is in everybody’s interest,” he adds.

“If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, agrees.

“Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing players ‘you are going to be captured’.”

“It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly,” he includes.

“If it loses that then people do not desire to wager, that is not in gambling companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He said that when an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.

FA guidelines imply players are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could cause “brand damage” to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

“We have to overcome to gamers the reputational threat to the video game,” he states. “Once confidence has actually been damaged it is tough to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” technique, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial gambling in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread betting, which is the remit of the FSA.

“The frustrating majority of sports wagering taking place through UK operators is legal and fair,” he says.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting event.

“Such unfaithful has the potential to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also harms the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports betting.”

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

“Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting,” he states.

“We will inform sports of our concerns, to help prevent or reduce [illegal] activity”

In May 2010, the commission also introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.

‘Vulnerabilities’

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous examinations, and that much useful info has actually also been passed to sports authorities.

He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal investigation “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were experienced about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.

“They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business.”