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Sport wagering industry wants to protect itself
16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge organization.
Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related sports betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
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Which figure is most 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 total worldwide gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of events are hit the gaming 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 wagering 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.
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"Not only is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims connecting to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have stated they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 allegations, however was prohibited recently for 6 months for failing to report the illegal method to him to toss 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 most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that is great for sports betting firms because individuals will invest cash sports betting with confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled sports betting industry ... it is not truly a positive story for wagering in the UK.
"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to be cautious about'."
'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 individuals 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 simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to deal with possible problems around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor says rules need to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through informing gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce stability and that is in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
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'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is essential that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then people do not wish to bet, that is not in gaming firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that as soon as a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules imply gamers are not permitted to bank on a competition in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has 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 business gaming 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 wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the of a sport, and it likewise damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share information to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or curtail [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a private telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much beneficial info has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would think about discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says many of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were experienced about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.
"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
Related web 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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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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