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Sport sports betting market aims to secure itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is substantial service.
Sport England estimates the worth of spending 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 approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt estimates the general global gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the integrity of events are hit the gambling industry suffers, and earnings are put under threat if customers can not bet 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 substantial 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 connecting to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have actually stated they will also 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, however was banned recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal method to him to toss frames.
There are likewise two other continuing investigations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and fair that benefits sports betting companies due to the fact that people will spend cash wagering with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK regulated sports betting market ... it is not really a positive story for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to take care about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to experts 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 rivals or the referee."
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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 thinks that it is not sufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to take on possible issues around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
"Through informing gamers about sports betting you strengthen stability and that is in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is essential that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then people don't wish to wager, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that as soon as a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules mean players are not permitted to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."
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'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to control commercial gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting event.
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"Such cheating has the potential to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.
"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a private 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 male who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much useful information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says a number of those wanting to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
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"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their ."
Related internet links
World sports betting Law Report
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ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
bet9ja.com
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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