Sport wagering industry wants to secure itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is substantial business.
Sport England approximates the worth 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 most likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gambling.
But when the stability of events are struck the gaming market suffers, and profits are put under danger if consumers can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.
High-profile
As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting market now.
"Not just is it a substantial market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by cops over spot-fixing claims associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted versus 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 stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.
There are likewise two other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
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David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is perceived as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies since people will spend cash sports betting with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK managed sports betting market ... it is not truly a positive story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to take care about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
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As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."
His organisation represents men and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with potential issues around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity and that remains in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is essential that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then people don't desire to wager, that is not in sports betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that once an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules indicate gamers are not permitted to bet on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.
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 last the following spring.
"We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
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If this represents the "carrot" technique, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage commercial gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports betting taking location through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting event.
"Such cheating has the potential to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also 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 disseminate info to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or reduce [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous examinations, which much helpful info has also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.
"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
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BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
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