Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself

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Sport betting industry looks to safeguard itself

Sport sports betting industry wants to safeguard itself

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16 September 2010

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By Bill Wilson


Business reporter, BBC News


sports betting on sport is big company.


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


Which figure is most likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.


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


But when the stability of occasions are hit the gaming industry suffers, and earnings are put under danger if customers can not wager with self-confidence.


And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering 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 significant market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."


Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims relating to a test against 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 allegations, however was banned last week for six months for stopping working to report the illegal technique to him to throw frames.


There are also two other continuing examinations - not associated 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 viewed as honest, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms since individuals will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he states.


"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering industry ... 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 have to be cautious about'."


'Education'


So what can be done to prevent future scandals?


According to specialists at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.


As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can fix a match are the rivals 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 simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the method to take on potential problems around players is likewise through education.


Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be explained clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.


"Through informing gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce stability which remains in everybody's interest," he includes.


"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."


'Brand damage'


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


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


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


"If it loses that then people don't wish to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."


He stated that when an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".


FA rules mean players are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are involved.


Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states 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 bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.


"We have to get over to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."


'Overwhelmingly legal'


If this represents the "carrot" method, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".


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


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


"The frustrating majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.


"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting occasion.


"Such cheating has the potential to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise harms the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."


The commission has developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate info to sporting authorities, wagering companies 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 assist prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity"


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


'Vulnerabilities'


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


However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing examinations, which much useful info has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.


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


Meanwhile, he says a lot of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were well-informed about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the movement of cash.


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


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

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus
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