Sport wagering industry aims to safeguard itself
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16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
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sports betting on sport is huge company.
Sport England approximates the worth of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
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Which figure is likely to have actually grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the general international gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gaming.
But when the stability of occasions are hit the sports betting industry suffers, and incomes are put under threat if consumers can not wager with 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 discuss the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not just is it a significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
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 players have actually stated 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, but was banned recently for six months for failing to report the illegal technique to him to throw frames.
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There are also 2 other continuing investigations - not related 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 truthful, straight and fair that is great for wagering firms because people will invest cash wagering with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK regulated sports betting industry ... it is not truly a positive story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to take care about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to specialists at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can repair 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 gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on prospective problems around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through informing gamers about sports betting wagering you strengthen integrity which is in everyone's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is necessary that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then people don't wish to bet, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that when a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules mean gamers are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says players have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We need to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" technique, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage commercial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating bulk of sports betting wagering happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the possible to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has actually developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate details to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to help avoid or curtail [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also introduced a private telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, which much useful details has actually also 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 industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
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Sport & Markt
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BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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