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Sport sports betting industry wants to safeguard itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge service.
Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
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And that figure is most likely to have grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research firm Sport & Markt estimates the total worldwide sports betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the stability of events are hit the gambling industry suffers, and earnings are put under threat if clients can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not only is it a substantial market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted against the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.
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Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful approach to him to throw frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms due to the fact that individuals will spend cash sports betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering market ... it is not truly a positive story for wagering in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to beware about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to professionals at a World Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."
His organisation represents males and ladies 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 insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on prospective concerns around gamers is also through education.
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Mr Taylor states rules need to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance integrity which is in everyone's interest," he includes.
"If gamers 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 much better than treatment, and we likewise make a point of informing players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he adds.
"If it loses that then individuals don't wish to wager, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that when an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA guidelines indicate gamers are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states gamers have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
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 need to get over to players the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, 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 control commercial sports betting 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 sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating bulk of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such unfaithful has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate details to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will alert sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a personal telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much beneficial details has also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says a number of those wanting to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help 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 Aims To Protect Itself
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