Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is big service.
Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the overall international betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the integrity of events are struck the gambling market suffers, and revenues are put under risk if consumers can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport betting stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt’s Gareth Moore observes: “Everyone talks about the sports betting market now.
“Not only is it a significant market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers.”
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing accusations connecting to a test versus England at Lord’s last month.
Three of these gamers have said they will also challenge the corruption charges installed versus the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.
Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful method to him to toss frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations – not associated 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 benefits betting firms since people will spend money wagering with confidence,” he states.
“If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed betting industry … it is not really a positive story for wagering 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 avoid future scandals?
According to professionals at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation mentions: “The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee.”
His organisation represents guys and females in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association.
He thinks that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to tackle possible problems around players is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.
“Through informing players about sports wagering you reinforce stability and that remains in everybody’s interest,” he includes.
“If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.”
‘Brand damage’
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.
“Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of telling players ‘you are going to be captured’.”
“It is necessary that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight,” he adds.
“If it loses that then individuals don’t wish to wager, that is not in gambling companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”
He said that when a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.
FA guidelines indicate players are not permitted to wager on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could trigger “brand damage” to football and its competitions.
So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
“We need to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the game,” he states. “Once confidence has been harmed it is difficult to get it back – mud sticks.”
‘Overwhelmingly legal’
If this represents the “carrot” technique, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
“The frustrating majority of sports wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he states.
“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting occasion.
“Such cheating has the potential to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also harms the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports betting wagering.”
The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
“Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports wagering,” he says.
“We will inform sports of our concerns, to help avoid or cut [prohibited] activity”
In May 2010, the commission also introduced a private telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.
‘Vulnerabilities’
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 continuous investigations, and that much beneficial info has also been passed to sports authorities.
He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.
Meanwhile, he says much of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were experienced about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.
“They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business.”