
Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
Betting on sport is big business.
Sport England estimates the value of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of occasions are hit the betting market suffers, and earnings are put under danger if clients can not wager with confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt’s Gareth Moore observes: “Everyone discuss the sports betting market now.
“Not only is it a considerable market in world organization, 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 versus England at Lord’s last month.
Three of these gamers have actually said 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.
There are also 2 other continuing investigations – not related to Mr Higgins – into snooker.
‘Honest’
David O’Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK’s greatest online sporting exchanges.
“If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that is excellent for wagering firms due to the fact that people will invest cash betting with confidence,” he says.
“If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled betting industry … it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.
“That is because the perception is that ‘cricket is now something we may need to take care about’.”
‘Education’
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to specialists at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation explains: “The only individuals who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee.”
His organisation represents guys 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 not enough to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to tackle possible problems around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be explained clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
“Through educating gamers about sports wagering you strengthen integrity and that remains in everyone’s interest,” he includes.
“If players are more difficult 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 treatment, and we also make a point of telling players ‘you are going to be captured’.”
“It is imperative that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly,” he includes.
“If it loses that then people do not want to bet, that is not in betting companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”
He said that when an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was “incalculable”.
FA guidelines imply gamers are not allowed to wager on a competition in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states might cause “brand damage” to football and its competitors.
So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
“We have to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the video game,” he states. “Once confidence has actually been damaged it is tough to get it back – mud sticks.”
‘Overwhelmingly legal’
If this represents the “carrot” technique, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
“The overwhelming majority of sports betting 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 occasion.
“Such unfaithful has the potential to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the business interests of sports bodies and sports wagering.”
The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
“Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports wagering,” he states.
“We will notify sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity”
In May 2010, the commission also introduced a private telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.
‘Vulnerabilities’
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing investigations, which much beneficial information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.
Meanwhile, he states many of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were knowledgeable about sports and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of money.
“They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises.”