Sport sports betting industry seeks to secure itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is substantial company.

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 actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total global sports betting 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 hit the gaming industry suffers, and incomes are put under danger if customers can not wager with confidence.
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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 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 police over spot-fixing claims connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal method to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 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 viewed as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits sports betting firms due to the fact that people will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK regulated wagering market ... it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "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 believes that it is not adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to deal with prospective issues around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting wagering you strengthen integrity and that remains in everyone's interest," he includes.

"If gamers 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 cure, and we likewise make a point of telling gamers 'you are going to be captured'."

"It is imperative that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he includes.

"If it loses that then individuals do not desire to bet, that is not in gaming 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 rules indicate players are not allowed to wager on a competitors in which they are included.

Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is tough 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 set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The overwhelming majority of sports betting wagering taking location 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 cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate info to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he says.

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing investigations, and that much helpful info has likewise 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 think about stopping a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he says much of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were educated 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

Sport & Markt
bit.ly
BLP

Gambling Commission
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