Sport wagering market aims to safeguard itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
Betting on sport is big business.
Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which 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 total international gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming industry suffers, and revenues are put under risk if consumers can not wager with self-confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
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As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone speak about 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 papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by cops over spot-fixing accusations associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have actually stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted 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, but was prohibited recently for six months for failing to report the prohibited 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, among the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits sports betting firms because individuals will invest money betting with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK managed betting industry ... it is not truly a positive story for betting in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might have to beware 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 gambling, the focus needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people 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 for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He believes that it is inadequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with possible problems around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor says rules need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
"Through informing players about sports betting you reinforce stability which remains in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of informing players 'you are going to be captured'."
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"It is crucial that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he includes.
"If it loses that then people do not want to wager, that is not in sports betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that as soon as a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules indicate gamers are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says gamers have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could trigger "brand 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 get over to players the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to control business gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports betting wagering taking place through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting event.
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"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
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The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate details to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.
"We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to assist prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
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But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, and that much useful information has actually likewise 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 think about terminating 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 industry were experienced about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business."
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
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Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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