Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Sport sports betting industry wants to secure itself

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

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge business.

Sport England approximates the worth 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 even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.

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

But when the stability of occasions are struck the gaming market suffers, and revenues 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 discuss the sports betting gambling market now.

"Not only is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these players have stated they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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 claims, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal technique to him to throw frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing examinations - not associated 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 perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering companies because people will invest money wagering with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering market ... it is not really a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to be mindful about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can fix 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 player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He believes that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to take on possible issues around players is likewise through education.

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

"Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance stability which remains in everyone's interest," he includes.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

"If it loses that then people don't desire to wager, that is not in sports betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

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

FA guidelines mean gamers are not allowed to bet 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 could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitions.

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

"We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" technique, 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 business gaming in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has duty 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 taking location 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 occasion.

"Such unfaithful has the possible to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share details to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to help avoid or cut [illegal] 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 actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

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

He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, 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 aiming to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about betting operations and the movement of money.

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