Something About Company

Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is substantial business.

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

Which figure is likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.

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

But when the integrity of events are struck the gaming market suffers, and revenues are put under threat if customers can not bet with self-confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport betting stories than those impacting 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 considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers.”

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

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

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, however was prohibited recently for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful 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, one of the UK’s most significant online sporting exchanges.

“If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms because people will invest cash betting with self-confidence,” he says.

“If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK managed betting market … it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

“That is since the perception is that ‘cricket is now something we might need to beware 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 gambling, the focus has to be on sportspersons 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 men and ladies 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 not sufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to tackle possible concerns around gamers is likewise through education.

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

“Through informing players about sports betting wagering you enhance stability which 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 advice at the Football Association, concurs.

“Prevention is much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling gamers ‘you are going to be caught’.”

“It is imperative that sport is directly, and is seen to be straight,” he includes.

“If it loses that then people do not desire to wager, that is not in gambling companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He said that once a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was “incalculable”.

FA guidelines suggest gamers are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states players have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states might trigger “brand name damage” to football and its competitions.

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

“We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the video game,” he says. “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 policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial gaming in Great Britain.

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

“The frustrating majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he states.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting occasion.

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

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute information to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

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

“We will signal sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or reduce [prohibited] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

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

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

He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those wanting to cheat the sports betting wagering market were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.

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