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Sport wagering market wants to protect itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is .
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Sport England approximates the value of costs on sport-related sports betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

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

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the general global gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gambling.

But when the stability of events are hit the gambling market suffers, and profits are put under hazard if customers can not wager 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 speak about the sports betting gambling market now.
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"Not just is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing accusations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, however was prohibited recently for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful method to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
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'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits sports betting firms since individuals will invest money sports betting with self-confidence," he says.

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

"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to take care about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to specialists 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 explains: "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.
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He thinks that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to take on prospective concerns around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you strengthen stability which is in everybody's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

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

He said that when a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules mean gamers are not allowed to wager on a competition in which they are included.

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

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

"We need to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

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

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

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

"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 damages the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive 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 wagering," he states.

"We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to assist prevent or cut [unlawful] 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 been just 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 examinations, which much useful details has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says numerous of those wanting to cheat the sports betting wagering market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.

"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."

Related web links
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World sports betting Law Report

ICC

Professional Players Federation

Professional Footballers' Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt

BLP

Gambling Commission

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