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Sport sports betting market wants to protect itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
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Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge company.
Sport England approximates the value of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
And that figure is most likely to have grown further, 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 worldwide sports betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gambling.
But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming industry suffers, and earnings 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 speak about the sports betting market now.
"Not only is it a substantial market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually said they will likewise 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 claims, but was banned last week for six months for failing to report the illegal technique to him to toss frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
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"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms due to the fact that people will spend cash betting with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK managed sports betting market ... it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need 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, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents men and women 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 insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the way to deal with potential concerns around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states rules need to be explained plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through informing players about sports betting you reinforce stability which remains in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is essential that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he adds.
"If it loses that then people do not want to wager, 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 mean players are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states players have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its .
So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We have to overcome 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'
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If this represents the "carrot" technique, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
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The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with details 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 unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much helpful information has also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says numerous of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."
Related web links
bet9ja.com
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
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