Sport betting industry wants to secure itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
Betting on sport is big company.
Sport England approximates the worth of spending on sport-related betting 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 further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the overall worldwide sports betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming industry suffers, and profits are put under risk if clients can not wager with confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not just is it a significant market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by police over spot-fixing accusations associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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 accusations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the prohibited approach to him to toss frames.
There are likewise two other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering firms because people will invest money wagering with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed sports betting market ... it is not truly a positive story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may need to be cautious about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only people who can repair 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 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 way to tackle potential issues around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor says rules need to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.
"Through educating players about sports betting you reinforce stability which is in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is essential that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then individuals don't wish to bet, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that as soon as a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA guidelines mean gamers are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states might trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitors.
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 video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating bulk of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate info to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he states.
"We will signal sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or reduce [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a personal 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 man who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much useful details has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states many of those aiming to cheat the sports betting wagering market were experienced about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.
"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
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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