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Sport wagering market wants to secure itself
16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
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Business reporter, BBC News
Betting on sport is substantial company.
Sport England approximates the value of costs on sport-related betting 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.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the overall international gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
But when the stability of events are struck the gambling market suffers, and profits are put under threat if consumers can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting 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 substantial market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players have actually said they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted versus 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 prohibited recently for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful approach to him to toss frames.
There are also 2 other continuing investigations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
'Honest'
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David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering companies since individuals will invest cash sports betting with confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK managed sports betting market ... it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to be cautious 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, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
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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 gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and procedures, but that the method to deal with possible problems around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity which 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 regulatory legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than remedy, 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 directly," he includes.
"If it loses that then individuals don't desire to wager, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that once an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules suggest gamers are not permitted to bank on a competition in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states might 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 wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We have to get over to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been harmed 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 manage business sports betting 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 sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The frustrating bulk of sports betting taking location through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting occasion.
"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also harms the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share info to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.
"We will signal sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a private telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much beneficial details 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 consider discontinuing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states much of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were well-informed about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.
"They look for 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
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Sport & Markt
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BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself
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