Sport betting market aims to safeguard itself

16 September 2010
bet9ja.com
By Bill Wilson

Business press reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge organization.

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

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

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

But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gaming industry suffers, and incomes are put under danger if consumers can not wager 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 talks about the sports betting market now.

"Not only is it a substantial market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have said they will also challenge the corruption charges installed against the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was banned recently for six months for failing to report the illegal technique to him to toss 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 biggest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that is great for betting firms due to the fact that people will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.

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

"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be cautious about'."

'Education'
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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 sportspersons and sportswomen.

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

His organisation represents guys and ladies 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 procedures, however that the method to deal with possible problems around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by they appreciate.

"Through educating players about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity which is in everybody's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

"If it loses that then people do not wish to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
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He stated that once a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules indicate players are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult 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 control business gaming in Great Britain.

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

"The frustrating majority of sports betting taking location through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting event.

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

The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been simply 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 investigations, which much useful details has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost effective, then the commission would think about discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he states a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting people, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.

"They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business."
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Related web links

World sports betting Law Report

ICC

Professional Players Federation

Professional Footballers' Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt

BLP

Gambling Commission

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