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Sport betting industry looks to secure itself
16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big organization.
Sport England estimates the value 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 most likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the general worldwide gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of events are hit the gaming market suffers, and incomes are put under threat if consumers can not bet with confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport 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.
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"Not just is it a significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually said they will also challenge the corruption charges installed 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 allegations, however was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the illegal method to him to throw frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
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"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that is great for wagering companies due to the fact that individuals will invest money sports betting with confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK regulated wagering market ... it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may have to take care 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 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 competitors 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 insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on potential problems around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor says rules require to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance integrity which remains in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
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'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is much better than treatment, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is vital that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then individuals don't want to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that as soon as a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA guidelines mean players are not enabled to bet on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v final the following spring.
"We have to overcome to players the reputational danger to the video 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 guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business sports betting in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"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 industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute info to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.
"We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or cut [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a personal telephone hotline for those with information 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 cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, and that much useful details has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says much of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
Related internet links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
The BBC is not responsible for the material of external websites.
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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
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