Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

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Sport wagering industry wants to safeguard itself

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Sport sports betting industry wants to safeguard itself

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

16 September 2010

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By Bill Wilson


Business reporter, BBC News

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sports betting on sport is substantial organization.


Sport England approximates 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 estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.


Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the general worldwide gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.


But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gambling industry suffers, and revenues are put under threat if clients can not wager with confidence.


And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

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High-profile


As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting market now.


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


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


Three of these gamers have stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 recently for 6 months for failing to report the illegal method to him to throw frames.


There are likewise two other continuing examinations - not related 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 honest, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies since people will spend money wagering with self-confidence," he says.


"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK regulated sports betting market ... it is not really a positive story for sports betting in the UK.


"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may need to beware 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 needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.


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


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


He thinks that it is not sufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to take on possible problems around gamers is likewise through education.


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


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


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


'Brand damage'


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


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


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


"If it loses that then people don't want to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."


He said that once a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".


FA rules imply players are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are involved.


Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitions.

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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 final the following spring.


"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."


'Overwhelmingly legal'


If this represents the "carrot" technique, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

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The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial sports betting in Great Britain.


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


"The overwhelming majority of sports betting wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.


"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the result of a sporting occasion.


"Such cheating has the potential to undermine the stability of a sport, and it likewise damages the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."


The commission has actually developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute info to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.


"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he states.


"We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or cut [unlawful] activity"


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


'Vulnerabilities'


But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been just 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 continuous investigations, and that much useful information has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.


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


Meanwhile, he says a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement 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

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