Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

Sport wagering market looks to protect itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is substantial company.

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

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

But when the stability of occasions are struck the gaming industry suffers, and revenues are put under danger if clients can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport sports betting stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting 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 authorities over spot-fixing claims associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have actually stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted versus the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was banned last week for six months for failing to report the illegal method to him to toss frames.

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

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and fair that benefits wagering companies because individuals will invest cash sports betting with self-confidence," he says.

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

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only individuals 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 gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to take on prospective concerns around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states rules need to be described clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

"Through informing players about sports betting wagering you reinforce stability and that remains in everybody'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 treatment, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."

"It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he adds.

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

He said that as soon as a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines mean players are not enabled to wager 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 says could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd 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 need to overcome to gamers the reputational threat to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

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

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

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering occurring 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 unfaithful has the prospective to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

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

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, which much beneficial info has actually also 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 terminating a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he says many of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.

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