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Betting on sport is big service.
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.
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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 summertime.
Meanwhile, German research firm Sport & Markt estimates the total worldwide gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the stability of events are struck the gaming industry suffers, and incomes are put under threat if clients can not bet with self-confidence.
And there can have been couple of 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 gambling 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 been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually said they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted against 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, however was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal method to him to toss frames.
There are also two 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 perceived as truthful, straight and fair that is great for wagering firms due to the fact that individuals will invest money betting with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled betting industry ... it is not really a positive story for wagering in the UK.
"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might have to beware about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent 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 people who can repair 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 player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with possible problems around gamers is also through education.
Mr Taylor says rules need to be described clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through informing gamers about sports wagering you reinforce stability which remains in everybody's interest," he adds.
"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be caught'."
"It is necessary that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then individuals don't want to bet, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that when a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA rules indicate gamers are not enabled to wager on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states might trigger "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 final the following spring.
"We need to get over to players the reputational threat to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, 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 cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread betting, 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 result of a sporting event.
"Such cheating has the possible to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports wagering."
The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.
"We will signal sports of our issues, to assist prevent or curtail [prohibited] activity"
In May 2010, the commission also presented a personal telephone hotline for those with information or suspicions.
'Vulnerabilities'
But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much helpful info has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost effective, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he says many of those seeking to cheat the sports wagering industry were knowledgeable about sports and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.
"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
jaivonwiller1 edited this page 2025-01-30 00:09:40 +09:00