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Sport betting seeks to secure itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big service.
Sport England approximates the value of costs on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is most likely to have grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the total global gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the stability of events are struck the gaming industry suffers, and revenues are put under hazard if customers can not bet with 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 talks about the sports betting market now.
"Not only is it a substantial market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually stated 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful method to him to toss frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - not associated 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 truthful, straight and fair that is great for sports betting firms since individuals will invest cash sports betting with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering market ... it is not really a favorable story for betting in the UK.
"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may have to be cautious about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to specialists at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus has 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 rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents guys 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 method to deal with prospective concerns around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance stability and that remains in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then people do not wish to bet, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that when a great reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA guidelines suggest players are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says 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 bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We have to overcome to players the reputational threat to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly 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 industrial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share details to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will inform sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also 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 just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous investigations, which much useful details has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated 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 says a number of those seeking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the movement of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
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BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself
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