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Sport wagering market aims to protect itself
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16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge service.
Sport England approximates 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 likely to have actually grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide betting market will be worth 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 industry suffers, and incomes are put under risk if clients can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone speak about the sports betting gambling market now.
"Not just is it a significant market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have actually 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 prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful approach to him to throw frames.
There are also two other continuing examinations - not related 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 perceived as sincere, straight and fair that is good for wagering firms because individuals will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK regulated sports betting industry ... it is not really a positive story for betting in the UK.
"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may need to be mindful about'."
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'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 points out: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals 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 not enough to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to take on potential issues around players is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states to be described clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you strengthen stability and that remains in everybody's interest," he adds.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is crucial that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then people do not want to wager, that is not in gaming firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that when an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules suggest players are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says players have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could 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 wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We need to get over to players the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
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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 regulate business sports betting 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 overwhelming majority of sports betting wagering happening 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.
"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate details to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, which much helpful information has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost effective, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states many of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
Related internet links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
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The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
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BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
Arnulfo Callender edited this page 2025-01-10 10:56:36 +00:00