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Betting on sport is huge service.
Sport England approximates the worth of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
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And that figure is likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the overall global gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports gambling.
But when the stability of events are struck the betting industry suffers, and revenues are put under threat if clients can not bet with confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport 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 only is it a considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
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 gamers have actually stated they will also 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 illegal technique to him to throw frames.
There are also two other continuing investigations - not associated 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 perceived as sincere, straight and fair that is excellent for betting companies since people will invest cash wagering with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering market ... it is not really 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 have to beware about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to professionals at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents men and women in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to deal with possible problems around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states rules need to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through informing players about sports wagering you reinforce stability and that is in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of informing players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he adds.
"If it loses that then individuals do not wish to bet, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that once a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules suggest players are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second 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 need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" method, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to control business gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability 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 receive and distribute details to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he states.
"We will notify sports of our concerns, to assist prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a confidential 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 guy who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing examinations, which much useful details has also been passed to sports authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would consider terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he says a number of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of money.
"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business."
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Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself
terrellmetcalf edited this page 2025-01-29 23:10:02 +08:00