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Sport wagering industry seeks to protect itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

Betting on sport is substantial organization.

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

And that figure is most likely to have actually grown even more, 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 total worldwide sports betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gaming.

But when the stability of occasions are struck the sports betting market suffers, and profits are put under threat if customers can not wager with confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

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

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

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

Three of these players have said 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful technique to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 2 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.
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"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that is excellent for sports betting companies since people will invest cash wagering with confidence," he states.

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

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to be careful about'."
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'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can repair 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 gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to tackle prospective issues around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you reinforce integrity 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 suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be captured'."

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

"If it loses that then people do not want to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
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He stated that as soon as an excellent reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines suggest players are not allowed to bet on a competition in which they are involved.

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

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

"We need to overcome to players the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then maybe 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 sports betting in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
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"The frustrating bulk of sports betting wagering taking place 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 event.

"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share details to sporting authorities, sports betting companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [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 duration there has actually been just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much helpful information has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

He said that where an investigation 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 says a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.

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