Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is substantial business.

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

And that figure is likely to have grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

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

But when the stability of occasions are hit the betting market suffers, and revenues are put under danger if consumers can not wager 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 gambling market now.

“Not just is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing accusations associating with a test versus England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these players have actually said they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 accusations, but was prohibited recently for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful technique to him to toss frames.

There are also two other continuing examinations – unrelated to Mr Higgins – into snooker.

‘Honest’

David O’Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK’s biggest online sporting exchanges.

“If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms because individuals will spend money wagering with confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK regulated betting industry … it is not truly a positive story for betting in the UK.

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

‘Education’

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs 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 competitors or the referee.”

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association.

He thinks that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on potential issues around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be described plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.

“Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity which is in everybody’s interest,” he includes.

“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 treatment, and we also make a point of telling players ‘you are going to be captured’.”

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

“If it loses that then individuals do not want to wager, that is not in gambling firms’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He said that as soon as a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.

FA rules imply players are not enabled to wager on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states gamers have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could trigger “brand damage” to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

“We have to overcome to players the reputational threat to the video game,” he states. “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 perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to control business gambling in Great Britain.

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

“The frustrating majority of sports wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he states.

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

“Such cheating has the possible to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting.”

The commission has developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate info to sporting authorities, betting companies and policing authorities.

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

“We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or curtail [prohibited] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much helpful info has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states many of those aiming to cheat the sports betting industry were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of money.

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