Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Sport wagering market seeks to protect itself

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16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge organization.

Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

Which figure is likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

Meanwhile, German research firm Sport & Markt approximates the general international sports betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gambling industry suffers, and incomes are put under danger if clients can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been couple of 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 been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have actually stated 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 accusations, but was prohibited recently for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two other continuing examinations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that is great for wagering companies due to the fact that individuals will invest cash sports betting with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK regulated wagering industry ... it is not truly a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to beware 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 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 rivals or the referee."

His organisation represents guys and women 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 insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to take on possible concerns around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you enhance stability which remains in everyone's interest," he includes.

"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."

"It is necessary that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he adds.

"If it loses that then individuals don't desire to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that when a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA rules suggest gamers are not permitted to bet on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We need to get over to players the reputational danger to the video game," he states. "Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'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 commercial gambling in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The frustrating bulk of sports betting wagering happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting occasion.

"Such unfaithful has the possible to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute info to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.

"We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"

In May 2010, the commission also introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, and that much useful details has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would think about ceasing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he states a number of those aiming to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the movement of cash.

"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."