Sport wagering market wants to secure itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business press reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge service.

Sport England estimates the value of costs on sport-related sports betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

And that figure is most likely to have 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 general global sports betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gambling.

But when the stability of events are struck the gambling market suffers, and incomes are put under hazard if customers can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport sports betting 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 significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these gamers 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 accusations, however was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
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'Honest'

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

"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that is good for wagering companies because people will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK controlled wagering industry ... it is not truly a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may have to beware about'."
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'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 sportsmen and sportswomen.

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

His organisation represents males and women 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 inadequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to take on prospective problems around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through educating players about sports betting you strengthen integrity and that is in everyone's interest," he includes.

"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
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'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."

"It is important that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he adds.

"If it loses that then people do not wish to bet, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that as soon as an excellent reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines mean players are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are included.

Mr Johnson says gamers have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd Division player out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

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

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" technique, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial sports betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming majority of sports betting taking place through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

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

"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the commercial 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, sports betting companies and policing authorities.

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

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

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

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

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

He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would think about stopping 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 industry were well-informed about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.

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

Related internet links

World sports betting Law Report

ICC
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Professional Players Federation
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Professional Footballers' Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt

BLP

Gambling Commission
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