Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

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Sport wagering market wants to safeguard itself

Sport wagering market aims to protect itself


16 September 2010

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By Bill Wilson


Business press reporter, BBC News


sports betting on sport is big company.


Sport England approximates the worth of costs on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.


Which figure is most likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.


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


But when the stability of occasions are hit the sports betting market suffers, and revenues are put under threat if clients can not bet 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 speak about the sports betting market now.

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"Not just is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."


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


Three of these gamers have actually said 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, but was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to toss frames.


There are also two other continuing examinations - 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 honest, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms due to the fact that individuals will invest money sports betting with confidence," he says.


"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not really a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.


"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to beware about'."


'Education'


So what can be done to prevent future scandals?


According to specialists at a World sports betting 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 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 inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to tackle potential concerns around players is also through education.


Mr Taylor says rules need to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.


"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you enhance stability and that 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 regulatory legal recommendations at the Football Association, agrees.


"Prevention is better than cure, and we likewise make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be caught'."


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


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


He said that once a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".


FA rules indicate gamers are not permitted to bet on a competitors in which they are involved.


Mr Johnson says players have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.


So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.


"We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the 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" technique, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

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The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business gambling in Great Britain.


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


"The overwhelming majority of sports betting taking place through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.


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


"Such unfaithful has the possible to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."


The commission has actually developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute information to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

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


"We will inform sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity"


In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.


'Vulnerabilities'


But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.


However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous examinations, and that much helpful info has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.


He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost effective, then the commission would think about ceasing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

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Meanwhile, he states a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.


"They seek out 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


Gambling Commission

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