Sport sports betting industry looks to protect itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge organization.
Sport England approximates the worth of costs on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which 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 estimates the total international gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gambling industry suffers, and revenues are put under danger if customers can not wager with confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport sports 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 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 police over spot-fixing claims associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have said 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, however was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to toss frames.
There are likewise two other continuing examinations - not related 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 perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering companies since individuals will spend cash sports betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering market ... it is not actually a for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to beware about'."
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'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can fix 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 thinks that it is not enough to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to tackle prospective issues around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through informing players about sports betting you enhance stability and that is 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 regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than treatment, 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 directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then people don't want to bet, that is not in sports betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that as soon as an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules indicate gamers are not allowed to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
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"We need to get over to players the reputational danger 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 possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business sports betting in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering taking place through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.
"We will signal sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or reduce [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a personal telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
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But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight continuous examinations, which much useful info has actually also 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 consider discontinuing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states a lot of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
"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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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
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