Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself
Sport sports betting industry looks to protect itself
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16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge service.
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Sport England approximates the value of spending 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 grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total international gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gaming.
But when the stability of occasions are struck the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under risk if consumers can not wager with confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting 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.
"Not just is it a considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually said 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was prohibited recently for six months for failing to report the illegal technique 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, among the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that is good for sports betting companies due to the fact that individuals will spend money sports betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering industry ... it is not really a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is because 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 experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents males and women 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 merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to tackle potential issues around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through informing gamers about sports betting you reinforce integrity which is in everybody's interest," he adds.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
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'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is much better than treatment, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is important that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then people don't desire to wager, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that when an excellent reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA guidelines imply gamers are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states might trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea the following spring.
"We need to get over to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial 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 wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
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"The frustrating majority of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise harms the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share details to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he states.
"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or cut [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a private telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much useful information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would think about ceasing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states many of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were experienced about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.
"They seek 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
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The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
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Gambling Commission
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