Sport sports betting market seeks to safeguard itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge service.
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Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
And that figure is likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the general international gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the integrity of events are hit the sports betting market suffers, and incomes are put under hazard if consumers can not bet with confidence.
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And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport wagering stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone talks about the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not just is it a substantial market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have 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 claims, however was banned recently for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited approach to him to throw frames.
There are also 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 fair that benefits sports betting firms because people will invest money sports betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not really a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may have to beware about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to specialists 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 mentions: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents men and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is not adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to deal with possible issues around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states rules require to be discussed plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through educating players about sports betting you strengthen integrity and that is in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal recommendations at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is imperative that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he adds.
"If it loses that then individuals do not desire to wager, that is not in sports betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that when an excellent reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA guidelines suggest gamers are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We have to get over to players the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
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'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" method, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"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 result of a sporting occasion.
"Such unfaithful has the possible to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of sports betting," he states.
"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or curtail [unlawful] activity"
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 period there has actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight continuous investigations, and that much helpful info has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says many of those aiming to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting 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
bet9ja.com
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself
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