Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is substantial company.

Sport England estimates the value of spending on sport-related betting 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 approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

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 gaming.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gambling market suffers, and profits are put under hazard if clients can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport betting stories than those affecting 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 significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test against England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these gamers have actually said they will also 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 claims, however was prohibited recently for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited approach to him to throw frames.

There are also two 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 perceived as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits betting companies since individuals will spend cash wagering with self-confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK regulated betting industry … it is not truly a positive story for betting in the UK.

“That is due to the fact that the perception is that ‘cricket is now something we may need to be careful about’.”

‘Education’

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to experts at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation explains: “The only individuals who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee.”

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

He thinks that it is not sufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to deal with prospective concerns around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

“Through informing gamers about sports betting you reinforce stability which is in everybody’s interest,” he adds.

“If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.

“Prevention is much better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing players ‘you are going to be caught’.”

“It is imperative that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly,” he includes.

“If it loses that then people don’t desire to bet, that is not in gambling firms’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He said that when a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.

FA rules suggest players are not allowed to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says players have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states might trigger “brand damage” to football and its competitors.

So, even a 2nd 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 get over to players the reputational threat to the 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 possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business gaming in Great Britain.

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

“The overwhelming bulk of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and fair,” 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 stability of a sport, and it likewise hurts the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports wagering.”

The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute info to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

“Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting,” he says.

“We will notify sports of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [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 prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight continuous investigations, which much beneficial details has also been passed to sports authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would consider terminating a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he states a number of those looking to cheat the sports wagering industry were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.

“They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business.”