Betting on sport is huge organization.

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

Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt estimates the total global betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the betting market suffers, and revenues are put under danger if customers can not wager with confidence.

And there can have been couple of 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 business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal technique to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two other continuing investigations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that is excellent for betting firms due to the fact that individuals will invest cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK regulated wagering industry ... it is not really a positive story for betting in the UK.

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need 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 gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can repair a match are the rivals 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 simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to take on potential issues around gamers is also through education.

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

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you enhance integrity which is in everybody's interest," he adds.

"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be captured'."

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

"If it loses that then people don't wish to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that as soon as a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA guidelines mean gamers are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could cause "brand name 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 need to overcome to players the reputational danger to the video game," he states. "Once self-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 policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming majority of sports wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting event.

"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise damages the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

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

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

"We will inform sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or cut [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

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

He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would think about terminating 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 wagering market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.

"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."