Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself

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Sport wagering market wants to protect itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge company.

Sport England estimates the value of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

Which figure is most likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

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

But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gambling industry suffers, and earnings are put under threat if customers can not wager with self-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 talks about the sports betting gambling market now.

"Not just is it a considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have stated they will likewise 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 allegations, but was prohibited last week for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited method to him to toss frames.

There are also 2 other continuing investigations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as truthful, straight and reasonable that is great for wagering companies because individuals will spend cash wagering with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering industry ... it is not truly a positive story for sports betting in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to take care about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to specialists 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 explains: "The only people who can repair a match are the competitors 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 insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to take on potential problems around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you enhance integrity which remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be caught'."

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

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

He stated that when a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA guidelines mean players are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says could trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" technique, 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 obligation for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.

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

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

"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute info to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"

In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a private telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing investigations, which much helpful details has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the movement of money.

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