Sport sports betting market wants to protect itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big service.
Sport England approximates the value of costs on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
And that figure is most likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt estimates the total global gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under danger if clients can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone talks about the sports betting market now.
"Not just is it a considerable market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have actually said 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was prohibited last week for six months for stopping working to report the illegal technique to him to toss frames.
There are likewise two other continuing investigations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as honest, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering firms because individuals will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK regulated wagering industry ... it is not actually a positive story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to be cautious about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."
His organisation represents males and women in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to deal with possible problems around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states rules require to be described clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through informing players about sports betting wagering you enhance integrity which remains in everyone's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, .
"Prevention is much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of informing players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is important that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then people do not want to wager, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that as soon as an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules indicate players are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We need to get over to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" method, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to control commercial sports betting in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
bit.ly
"The frustrating majority of sports betting wagering happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute information to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will inform sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity"
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In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a private telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much beneficial details has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says numerous of those wanting to cheat the sports betting market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
Related internet 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 Aims To Protect Itself
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