Sport betting industry wants to secure itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
Betting on sport is huge organization.
Sport England estimates the value of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is likely to have actually grown even more, with an ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the stability of occasions are struck the sports betting industry suffers, and incomes are put under hazard if customers can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone speak about the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not only is it a considerable market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted versus the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.
Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, however was banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the illegal technique to him to throw frames.
There are likewise 2 other continuing examinations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.
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"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that is good for sports betting firms since individuals will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not really a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.
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"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to be mindful about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He believes that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to deal with prospective issues around gamers is likewise through education.
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Mr Taylor states rules require to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through informing players about sports betting you strengthen stability which remains 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 regulatory legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of telling gamers 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is imperative that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he includes.
"If it loses that then individuals do not wish to bet, that is not in gaming firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that when an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA guidelines suggest gamers are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says players have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states might trigger "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 last the following spring.
"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
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The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to control commercial sports betting in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating majority of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting occasion.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise damages the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate information to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
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"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a private telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
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'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much helpful info has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would consider terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says a lot of those wanting to cheat the sports betting wagering market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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