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Sport betting market wants to safeguard itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News
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sports betting on sport is huge service.

Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related betting 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 approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide betting market will be worth 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 gambling market suffers, and revenues are put under threat if consumers 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 just is it a considerable market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted versus 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 six months for failing to report the prohibited approach to him to throw frames.

There are also 2 other continuing investigations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as truthful, straight and fair that is good for wagering companies due to the fact that people will spend cash sports betting with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering market ... it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to be mindful about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to specialists 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 explains: "The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the method to tackle potential problems around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules need to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you reinforce stability which 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 regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of telling gamers 'you are going to be caught'."

"It is vital that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he includes.

"If it loses that then individuals do not desire to wager, that is not in sports betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that once a great track record 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 says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says could trigger "brand name damage" to football and its .

So, even a Second Division player 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 get over to players the reputational threat to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then maybe 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 gaming in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread betting, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The overwhelming majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the outcome of a sporting occasion.

"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also harms the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate info to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.

"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to assist avoid or curtail [illegal] activity"

In May 2010, the commission also presented a private telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much useful details has actually likewise 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 consider ceasing 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 wagering industry were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of money.

"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist 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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