Betting on sport is huge business.
Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related 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 approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt estimates the overall global betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports gambling.
But when the integrity of occasions are hit the betting market suffers, and revenues are put under threat if consumers 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 gambling market now.
"Not only is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have stated they will also challenge the corruption charges installed against the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.
Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the prohibited technique to him to toss frames.
There are also two 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 viewed as truthful, straight and fair that is good for wagering companies due to the fact that individuals will invest money betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK managed betting market ... it is not really a positive story for betting in the UK.
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"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may have to take care about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to professionals at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."
His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He believes that it is not adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to tackle potential problems around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor states rules require to be explained plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
"Through educating players about sports betting you reinforce stability which remains in everyone's interest," he adds.
"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
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Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is important that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then people don't wish to bet, that is not in betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that when a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules mean players are not permitted to bet on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says players have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a 2nd Division player 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 players the reputational threat to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands police, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
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"The frustrating bulk of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting occasion.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise damages the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting."
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The commission has actually developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will signal sports of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with information 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 cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much helpful info has likewise been passed to sports authorities.
He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would think about ceasing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states a lot of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were well-informed about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
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Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself
lzsjefferson0 edited this page 2025-01-29 22:57:49 +08:00