Sport betting to secure itself
16 September 2010
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By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is huge business.
Sport England approximates the worth 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 likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.
Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt estimates the total global gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of events are hit the gaming industry suffers, and revenues are put under danger if clients can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering 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 significant 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 claims relating to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these players 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 banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the prohibited technique to him to toss frames.
There are also 2 other continuing examinations - not related 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 great for sports betting firms since people will spend cash betting with self-confidence," he states.
"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK regulated betting industry ... it is not really a positive story for betting in the UK.
"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may have to take care about'."
'Education'
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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 explains: "The only people who can fix a match are the competitors 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 thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on prospective issues around players is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.
"Through informing gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity which is in everybody's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is much better than remedy, and we likewise make a point of informing gamers '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 people don't want to bet, that is not in sports betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that as soon as a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules suggest gamers are not permitted to wager on a competition in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson states gamers have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.
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So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has been harmed it is tough 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 established under the Gambling Act 2005 to control commercial gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, 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 bulk of sports betting taking place through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.
"Such unfaithful has the potential to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate details to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.
"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to assist prevent or cut [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also introduced a private telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous examinations, and that much beneficial information 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 terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the movement 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
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Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission
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Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself
terrancemcreyn edited this page 2025-01-02 07:20:10 +01:00