Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is huge organization.

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

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

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

But when the stability of events are hit the gambling industry suffers, and profits are put under threat if clients can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been few 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 gambling market now.

“Not just is it a substantial market in world organization, 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 against England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these gamers have actually stated they will likewise 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 accusations, but was banned recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal technique to him to toss frames.

There are also two other continuing investigations – unrelated to Mr Higgins – into snooker.

‘Honest’

David O’Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK’s most significant online sporting exchanges.

“If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that is great for betting firms since people will invest cash betting with confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK regulated wagering market … it is not really 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 be cautious 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 points out: “The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee.”

His organisation represents men and ladies 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 inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to tackle potential problems around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

“Through educating gamers about sports betting you strengthen stability which remains in everybody’s interest,” he adds.

“If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

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

“Prevention is much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of informing players ‘you are going to be caught’.”

“It is imperative that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight,” he includes.

“If it loses that then individuals don’t wish to wager, that is not in betting firms’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He said that once an excellent reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was “incalculable”.

FA rules mean gamers are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states players have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says could cause “brand damage” to football and its competitors.

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

“We have to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the video game,” he states. “Once confidence has actually been damaged it is tough to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” method, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of policy 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 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 taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he says.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.

“Such unfaithful has the prospective to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also harms the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting.”

The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate details to sporting authorities, betting companies and policing authorities.

“Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting,” he says.

“We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or cut [prohibited] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous investigations, and that much useful details has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.

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