Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is big organization.

Sport England approximates the value of spending 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 grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the total global betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gaming industry suffers, and profits are put under danger if customers can not wager with confidence.

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

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 players have stated they will likewise 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 allegations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal approach 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, one of the UK’s greatest online sporting exchanges.

“If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms due to the fact that people will spend money wagering with confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK regulated wagering market … it is not really a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

“That is since the perception is that ‘cricket is now something we might have to take care about’.”

‘Education’

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

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

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

His organisation represents men and women in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ .

He thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to take on possible issues around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be described clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

“Through educating gamers about sports betting you strengthen integrity which remains in everybody’s interest,” he includes.

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

‘Brand damage’

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.

“Prevention is better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling players ‘you are going to be caught’.”

“It is crucial that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight,” he adds.

“If it loses that then individuals don’t wish to bet, that is not in gaming firms’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He stated that once a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.

FA guidelines indicate players are not permitted to bet on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could 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 final the following spring.

“We have to get over to players the reputational threat to the video game,” he states. “Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is difficult to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” technique, 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 industrial betting in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering 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 disrupt the outcome of a sporting occasion.

“Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting.”

The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

“We will alert sports of our concerns, to help avoid or curtail [unlawful] activity”

In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.

‘Vulnerabilities’

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much helpful information has actually also been passed to sports authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost effective, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal investigation “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he states a lot of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the movement of money.

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