Sport wagering market seeks to secure itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big organization.
Sport England approximates the worth of spending on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
And that figure is most likely to have grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt estimates the general global sports betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and revenues are put under hazard if consumers can not bet with self-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 discuss the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not only is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have 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 last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful method 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, among the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as truthful, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering firms because individuals will spend money wagering with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed betting industry ... it is not actually a favorable 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 take care 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, the focus needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only people who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents guys and women in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to deal with potential concerns around players is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states rules need to be described clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you strengthen stability and that remains in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is essential that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he adds.
"If it loses that then people don't want to wager, that is not in gambling firms' 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 guidelines suggest gamers are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a 2nd Division player 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 get over to players the reputational risk to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually 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 guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to control industrial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports betting wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate details to sporting authorities, betting companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to help avoid or curtail [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 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 8 ongoing investigations, and that much useful details has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states many of those aiming to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the motion of cash.
"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
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
