Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

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Sport betting market seeks to safeguard itself

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16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business press reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is big service.

Sport England estimates the value 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 actually grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the total international gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gambling.

But when the integrity of events are hit the sports betting industry suffers, and incomes are put under hazard if consumers can not bet with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports 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 just 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 police over spot-fixing claims associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have said they will likewise 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 accusations, but was prohibited recently for six months for failing to report the prohibited technique to him to toss frames.

There are also 2 other continuing examinations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms since people will invest cash sports betting with self-confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK controlled wagering market ... it is not truly a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be careful about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He thinks that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to take on prospective concerns around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

"Through educating players about sports betting you strengthen integrity which remains in everybody's interest," he includes.

"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.

"Prevention is better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling gamers 'you are going to be captured'."

"It is necessary that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he includes.

"If it loses that then individuals don't wish to bet, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that as soon as an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA guidelines imply players are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states players have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We have to overcome to players the reputational threat to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial sports betting in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting occasion.

"Such cheating has the possible to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

The commission has actually developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share details to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.

"We will inform sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or curtail [prohibited] activity"

In May 2010, the commission also introduced a confidential telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, and that much helpful information has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would consider terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he says a number of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the movement of cash.

"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."