Sport wagering industry aims to safeguard itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big 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.
Which figure is most likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the total global gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gambling market suffers, and revenues are put under hazard if customers can not wager with 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 speak about the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not only is it a significant 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 accusations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have stated they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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 stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.
There are likewise two other continuing investigations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and fair that is excellent for wagering companies because people will invest cash wagering with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not truly a positive story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may need 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 has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "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 gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is not sufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to take on prospective concerns around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.
"Through informing gamers about sports betting you reinforce integrity which is in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling gamers 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is vital that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then people don't desire to bet, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that as soon as a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA guidelines imply gamers are not permitted to bet on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says players have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
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 overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise harms 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 share info to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a personal telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much helpful info has also 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 consider terminating a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says numerous of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were experienced about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist 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
