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Sport sports betting market seeks 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 big service.
Sport England estimates 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 likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total global gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
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But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gambling industry suffers, and earnings are put under hazard if customers can not wager with self-confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not just is it a substantial market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing claims relating to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have 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 accusations, but was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful technique to him to toss frames.
There are likewise two other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as honest, straight and fair that benefits sports betting firms since individuals will spend cash sports betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK controlled sports betting market ... it is not really a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may 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 sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can repair a match are the competitors or the referee."
His organisation represents guys and women 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 insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to tackle possible concerns around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor says rules need to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you enhance integrity which is in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations 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 essential that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he includes.
"If it loses that then people don't wish to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that once a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules suggest players are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states gamers have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We need to overcome to gamers the reputational threat to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" method, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating bulk of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute info to sporting authorities, wagering firms 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 concerns, to assist prevent or cut [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced 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 criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous examinations, which much useful information has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would think about discontinuing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.
"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
Related internet 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 Wants To Protect Itself
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