Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

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Sport betting market wants to secure itself

Sport betting industry wants to protect itself


16 September 2010

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By Bill Wilson

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Business reporter, BBC News


sports betting on sport is substantial company.


Sport England approximates the worth of costs on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.


Which figure is most likely to have grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.


Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall global gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.


But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gambling market suffers, and revenues are put under threat if customers 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 discuss the sports betting market now.


"Not only is it a substantial market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

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Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.


Three of these players have actually stated they will likewise 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 claims, but was banned recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.


There are also 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.


'Honest'


David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.


"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that benefits sports betting companies due to the fact that people will spend money sports betting with confidence," he states.


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


"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might have to take care about'."


'Education'


So what can be done to prevent future scandals?


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


As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only people who can repair a match are the competitors or the referee."


His organisation represents men and ladies 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 insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the way to tackle possible concerns around gamers is likewise through education.


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


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


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


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


"If it loses that then individuals do not wish to wager, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."


He said that once a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".


FA guidelines mean gamers are not permitted to wager on a competition in which they are included.


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


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


"We need to overcome to gamers the reputational threat to the video game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."


'Overwhelmingly legal'

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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 business gambling in Great Britain.


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


"The frustrating bulk of sports betting taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.


"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting occasion.


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


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 substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he states.


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


In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a personal telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.


'Vulnerabilities'


But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.


However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight continuous examinations, and that much useful info has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.


He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".


Meanwhile, he states much of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the motion of cash.


"They seek out 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


BLP


Gambling Commission

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