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Sport wagering market looks to safeguard itself
bet9ja.com
16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is substantial organization.

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

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

Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide sports betting market will deserve 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 market suffers, and profits are put under hazard if clients 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 gambling market now.

"Not only is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations 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 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 six months for stopping working to report the illegal technique to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing investigations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and fair that is great for sports betting firms since individuals will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK regulated wagering industry ... it is not actually 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 avoid future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only people who can repair 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 simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to tackle prospective concerns around gamers is also through education.

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

"Through educating gamers about sports betting you reinforce integrity which remains in everyone's interest," he includes.

"If players 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 much better than treatment, and we also make a point of informing 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 people do not desire to wager, that is not in sports betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

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

FA guidelines indicate gamers are not permitted to bank on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states gamers have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

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

"We have to get over to players the reputational danger to the game," he says. "Once confidence has actually 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 regulation 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 cops, Mr Tofiluk has obligation 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 wagering taking location through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting occasion.

"Such unfaithful has the possible to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also harms the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate information to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.

"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to assist avoid or reduce [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been just 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 eight ongoing investigations, and that much useful information has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

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

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

Related internet 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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