Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is huge organization.

Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related 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 summertime.

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

But when the stability of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and profits are put under risk if consumers can not wager with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport 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 considerable 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 stated they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed against 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 illegal technique to him to throw frames.

There are likewise two other continuing examinations – unrelated 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 perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies because individuals will spend money betting with confidence,” he states.

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

“That is since the perception is that ‘cricket is now something we may need to beware about’.”

‘Education’

So what can be done to prevent 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 points out: “The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee.”

His organisation represents males 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, but that the way to take on possible problems around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

“Through educating gamers about sports wagering you reinforce stability and that is in everyone’s interest,” he adds.

“If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

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

“Prevention is much better than treatment, and we also make a point of informing players ‘you are going to be captured’.”

“It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly,” he adds.

“If it loses that then individuals don’t wish to bet, that is not in betting companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He stated that when a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was “incalculable”.

FA guidelines indicate gamers are not allowed 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 understanding, which he says might trigger “brand name damage” to football and its competitions.

So, even a Second 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 overcome to players the reputational risk to the video game,” he says. “Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is difficult to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” technique, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial betting in Great Britain.

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

“The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he states.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.

“Such cheating has the potential to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise harms the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports betting.”

The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute information to sporting authorities, 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 concerns, to assist prevent or cut [prohibited] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing examinations, and that much useful information has also been passed to sports authorities.

He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he says much of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were knowledgeable about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.

“They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises.”