Sport sports betting market seeks to secure itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is big business.

Sport England approximates 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 likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the general worldwide gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by and sports betting gaming.
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But when the stability of occasions are hit the gambling industry suffers, and revenues are put under danger if consumers can not bet with 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 gambling market now.

“Not just is it a substantial market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing accusations relating to a test versus England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these players have said 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was prohibited last week for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited method to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two 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 sincere, straight and fair that benefits sports betting firms since people will spend cash wagering with confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering market … it is not actually a positive story for betting in the UK.

“That is because the understanding is that ‘cricket is now something we may have to take care 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 gambling, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
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As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation mentions: “The only people who can repair 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 player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association.

He thinks that it is not enough to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to take on prospective problems around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be described clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

“Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance stability and that is in everyone’s interest,” he adds.

“If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.

“Prevention is much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling players ‘you are going to be caught’.”

“It is imperative that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight,” he includes.

“If it loses that then people do not wish to wager, that is not in gaming firms’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He stated that as soon as a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.

FA rules indicate players are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says players have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says could cause “brand name damage” to football and its competitors.

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

“We have to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the game,” he says. “Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” method, 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 regulate business gaming in Great Britain.

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

“The frustrating majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he states.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting event.

“Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering.”

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

“Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering,” he says.

“We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [prohibited] activity”

In May 2010, the commission likewise 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 criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing examinations, and that much useful details has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would consider terminating 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 betting market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.

“They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business.”

Related internet links
bit.ly
World sports betting Law Report

ICC

Professional Players Federation

Professional Footballers’ Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt

BLP

Gambling Commission

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