Sport wagering market looks to safeguard itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
Betting on sport is huge service.
Sport England approximates the worth of costs on sport-related sports betting 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 firm Sport & Markt estimates the total worldwide gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gambling.
But when the stability of occasions are hit the gambling industry suffers, and profits are put under risk if clients can not bet 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 talks about the sports betting market now.
"Not only is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by police over spot-fixing claims connecting to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have stated 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was banned recently for six months for failing to report the prohibited method to him to throw 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 truthful, straight and reasonable that is excellent for wagering companies because people will invest money sports betting with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK controlled sports betting market ... it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to take care about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to specialists at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."
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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 believes that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to take on prospective problems around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be explained clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you strengthen stability and that remains in everyone's interest," he includes.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is much better than treatment, and we also make a point of telling gamers 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is imperative that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"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 stated that when an excellent reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules mean gamers are not enabled to wager on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says might trigger "brand name damage" to and its competitions.
So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We need to get over to players the reputational risk to the game," he says. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
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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 regulate commercial gambling 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 wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating majority of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the outcome of a sporting occasion.
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"Such cheating has the possible to undermine the stability of a sport, and it likewise hurts the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate info to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or cut [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with info 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 warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing examinations, which much useful info has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he states a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the motion of cash.
"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
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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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Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself
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