Sport sports betting market aims to safeguard itself
bet9ja.com
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business press reporter, BBC News
Betting on sport is big organization.
Sport England estimates the worth 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 most likely to have grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
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 gambling.
But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gambling market suffers, and earnings are put under hazard if customers can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone talks about the sports betting market now.
"Not only 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 police over spot-fixing accusations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have 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 allegations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the illegal technique to him to throw frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering firms due to the fact that people will invest money betting with confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK regulated betting market ... it is not actually a positive story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might have to be careful 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, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents males and ladies in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
bet9ja.com
He believes that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to take on prospective concerns around players is likewise through education.
bet9ja.com
Mr Taylor states rules need to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.
"Through educating players about sports betting you enhance stability which is in everybody's interest," he adds.
bet9ja.com
"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we likewise make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is imperative that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he adds.
"If it loses that then people don't want to bet, that is not in betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that once a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA guidelines imply gamers are not allowed to wager on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he states might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is hard 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 industrial gaming 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 sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating bulk of sports betting taking place through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting event.
"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute info to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or cut [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much useful details 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 stopping a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says numerous of those wanting to cheat the sports betting wagering market were well-informed 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 enterprises."
bit.ly
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
bet9ja.com
BLP
Gambling Commission
1
Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself
Hortense Tong edited this page 5 months ago