Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself > 문의하기

Betting on sport is substantial service.

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

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

Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the general international gambling 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 hit the betting market suffers, and earnings are put under danger if customers can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport betting stories than those affecting 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 significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

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

Three of these gamers have actually stated 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 allegations, but was banned last week for six months for failing to report the illegal approach 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 honest, straight and reasonable that benefits betting companies since people will invest cash betting with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled wagering market ... it is not really a positive story for betting in the UK.

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might have to take care about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He thinks that it is not sufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to deal with prospective concerns around gamers is also through education.

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

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

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

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.

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

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

"If it loses that then people don't desire to bet, that is not in gambling 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 "incalculable".

FA rules mean gamers are not enabled to wager 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 name damage" to football and its competitors.

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 final the following spring.

"We need to overcome to players the reputational risk to the game," he says. "Once confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then possibly 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 betting 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 overwhelming bulk of sports wagering taking place through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.

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

"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports wagering."

The commission has developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share info to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will inform sports of our issues, to help avoid or reduce [prohibited] activity"

In May 2010, the commission also introduced a confidential 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 warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 continuous examinations, and that much useful details has also been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were knowledgeable about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.

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