sport-betting-industry-seeks-to-protect-itself

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Betting on sport is huge service.

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

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

Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt estimates the overall international gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gaming market suffers, and incomes are put under threat if customers can not bet with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone speak about the sports betting market now.

"Not just is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, however was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful technique to him to toss frames.

There are also two other continuing examinations - unrelated 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 viewed as honest, straight and fair that is good for wagering companies since individuals will invest money wagering with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK controlled betting industry ... it is not really a positive story for betting in the UK.

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need 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 has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only people who can fix a match are the rivals 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 that it is not adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to take on possible issues around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be explained plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through educating players about sports betting you strengthen stability which is in everybody's interest," he adds.

"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

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

"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be captured'."

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

"If it loses that then individuals do not want to bet, that is not in betting 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 imply gamers are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are involved.

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

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

"We need to get over to players the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of policy 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 obligation for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The overwhelming bulk of sports 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 event.

"Such cheating has the potential to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share details to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to help avoid or curtail [illegal] activity"

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

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much helpful info has actually likewise been passed to sports authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would consider ceasing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he says numerous of those wanting to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of money.

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