Sport sports betting industry wants to protect itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is substantial service.
Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
And that figure is likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gambling.
But when the stability of occasions are struck the sports 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 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 market now.
"Not only is it a significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations connecting to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have said they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted versus the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.
Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, but was banned recently for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.
There are likewise two other continuing examinations - not related 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 viewed as truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits sports betting firms because people will spend cash sports betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK regulated sports betting industry ... it is not really a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that 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 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 guys and women in 15 sports betting 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 treatments, but that the method to deal with possible problems around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting you reinforce integrity which remains in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is much better than treatment, and we likewise make a point of informing players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is necessary that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he includes.
"If it loses that then individuals do not desire to wager, that is not in sports betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that once an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA guidelines mean 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 understanding, which he states might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the 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" method, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering 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 states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute details to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to assist avoid or reduce [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a private telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing examinations, and that much helpful information has also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says many of those aiming to cheat the sports betting wagering market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.
"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help 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
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