Sport Betting Industry Wants To Protect Itself
Sport wagering market seeks to safeguard itself
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big company.
Sport England approximates the worth of spending on sport-related sports betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
And that figure is likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the general international gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.
But when the integrity of events are struck the gaming industry suffers, and profits are put under hazard if consumers 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 & Moore observes: „Everyone speak about the sports betting gambling market now.
„Not just is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers.“
Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing accusations associating with a test versus England at Lord’s last month.
Three of these gamers have said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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 accusations, but was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited method 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 biggest online sporting exchanges.
„If the sport is viewed as truthful, straight and fair that benefits wagering companies since people will spend cash wagering with self-confidence,“ he states.
„If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering market … it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.
„That is due to the fact that the perception is that ‚cricket is now something we might need to take care about‘.“
‚Education‘
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players‘ Federation mentions: „The only people who can fix a match are the rivals 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 believes that it is not enough to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to take on potential problems around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.
„Through educating players about sports betting you strengthen integrity and that remains in everyone’s interest,“ he adds.
„If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.“
‚Brand damage‘
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.
„Prevention is better than cure, and we also make a point of informing gamers ‚you are going to be caught‘.“
„It is crucial that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight,“ he adds.
„If it loses that then people do not want to wager, that is not in sports betting firms‘ interests, and it is not in our interests.“
He stated that as soon as a great reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was „incalculable“.
FA guidelines indicate gamers are not permitted to bank on a competition in which they are involved.
Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could cause „brand name damage“ to football and its competitors.
So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
„We have to get over to players the reputational risk to the game,“ he states. „Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult to get it back – mud sticks.“
‚Overwhelmingly legal‘
If this represents the „carrot“ approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the „stick“.
The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial gaming in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands authorities, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, which is the remit of the FSA.
„The frustrating bulk of sports betting wagering happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable,“ he states.
„But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting event.
„Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also harms the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering.“
The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share info to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.
„Since 2007 we have experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering,“ he says.
„We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or reduce [unlawful] activity“
In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a confidential telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.
‚Vulnerabilities‘
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing examinations, and that much useful information has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost effective, then the commission would consider terminating 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 experienced about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.
„They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises.“
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers‘ Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
Gambling Commission