Sport sports betting industry aims to safeguard itself
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16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News
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Betting on sport is huge company.

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.

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

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

But when the integrity of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and profits are put under threat if consumers can not wager with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting 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 considerable market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

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

Three of these players have actually stated they will likewise 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 prohibited recently for six months for failing to report the illegal technique to him to toss 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 perceived as honest, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms due to the fact that individuals will invest money wagering with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK regulated betting market ... it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to take care 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 needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only people who can repair 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 player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He believes that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to deal with potential concerns around players is also through education.
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Mr Taylor states rules need to be discussed plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity and that remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."

"It is important that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he includes.

"If it loses that then people do not wish to wager, that is not in gaming firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that when a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

suggest gamers are not allowed to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states might 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 wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We need to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business gambling in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming majority of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.
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"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting event.

"Such unfaithful has the potential to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
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The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.

"We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or cut [unlawful] 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 actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, and that much beneficial info has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would consider ceasing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he states a lot of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were experienced about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.

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

Related web links

World sports betting Law Report

ICC

Professional Players Federation

Professional Footballers' Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt

BLP

Gambling Commission

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