Betting on sport is huge organization.
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Sport England estimates the value of spending 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 further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gaming market suffers, and revenues are put under hazard if clients can not wager with confidence.
And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport wagering 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 just is it a considerable 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 claims associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have actually stated 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 accusations, however was banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the prohibited approach 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 truthful, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering companies since people will invest cash betting with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not really a positive story for betting in the UK.
"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to beware about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to professionals 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 fix a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents guys and females in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the method to deal with prospective issues around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor states rules require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.
"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you reinforce stability and that remains in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is vital that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight," he includes.
"If it loses that then individuals do not desire to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that once a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA guidelines imply players are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are involved.
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Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We have to get over to players the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to control business gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming majority of sports wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
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"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute details to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.
"We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or curtail [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 period there has actually been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, and that much beneficial info has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would think about ceasing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says numerous of those looking to cheat the sports wagering market were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."
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Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
kriskime18831 edited this page 2025-01-29 10:13:30 -08:00