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Sport sports betting market aims to secure itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson

Business press reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge organization.

Sport England approximates the value of costs on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

Which figure is most likely to have actually grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the overall 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 hit the gaming industry suffers, and earnings are put under risk if clients can not wager with confidence.

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

High-profile

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

"Not only is it a considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing claims associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 allegations, however was banned recently for six months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms since individuals will invest cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed sports betting industry ... it is not actually 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."

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 believes that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to tackle possible issues around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

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

"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
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'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, agrees.

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

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

"If it loses that then people don't want to bet, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that once a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules mean players are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he states could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a Second 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 have to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has actually been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Act 2005 to manage business sports betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.

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

"Such unfaithful has the potential to undermine the stability of a sport, and it likewise harms the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or cut [prohibited] activity"

In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a private telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much useful information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those aiming to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the movement of money.

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

Related web links

World sports betting Law Report

ICC

Professional Players Federation

Professional Footballers' Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt

BLP
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Gambling Commission

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