Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself

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Sport wagering market wants to safeguard itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business press reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge service.

Sport England approximates the value 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 likely to have actually 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 general international gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.

But when the stability of occasions are struck the gaming industry suffers, and earnings are put under threat if clients can not wager with confidence.

And there can have been few 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 market now.

"Not only is it a substantial market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these players 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, but was banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing investigations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that is great for wagering companies because individuals will spend money wagering with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not truly a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to experts 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 points out: "The only people who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."

His organisation represents guys and ladies 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 not adequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with potential concerns around gamers is also through education.

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

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you enhance stability which remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

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

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

"It is essential that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he adds.

"If it loses that then individuals do not wish to bet, that is not in sports betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that once an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA rules indicate gamers are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might trigger "brand name 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 last the following spring.

"We need to overcome to players the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, 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 control business sports betting in Great Britain.

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

"The frustrating majority of sports betting wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

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

"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 internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share details to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will alert sports betting of our issues, to help avoid or cut [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, and that much useful information 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 discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he says much of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.

"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business."