Cover the Bases: Sports Betting News and Notes from the Past Week

Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is substantial company.

Sport England approximates the worth of costs 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 grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this .

Meanwhile, German research firm Sport & Markt estimates the general international gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports gambling.

But when the stability of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and incomes are put under risk if consumers can not wager with self-confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those impacting 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 considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers.”

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 players have stated they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 allegations, but was prohibited last week for six months for stopping working to report the illegal method to him to throw frames.

There are likewise two other continuing investigations – not related 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 perceived as truthful, straight and fair that is great for betting companies due to the fact that individuals will spend money betting with self-confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering market … it is not truly a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

“That is because the understanding is that ‘cricket is now something we may need to take care about’.”

‘Education’

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation mentions: “The only individuals who can repair a match are the competitors 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 believes that it is not sufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to take on possible concerns around gamers is also through education.

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

“Through informing gamers about sports betting wagering you strengthen integrity and that is in everyone’s interest,” he includes.

“If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

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

“Prevention is much better than cure, and we also make a point of informing gamers ‘you are going to be captured’.”

“It is essential that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly,” he adds.

“If it loses that then people do not want to bet, that is not in gambling firms’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He stated that once a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was “incalculable”.

FA guidelines suggest players are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states players have actually 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 final the following spring.

“We have to overcome to players the reputational risk to the game,” he says. “Once confidence has actually been harmed it is difficult to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” approach, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business gaming in Great Britain.

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

“The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering taking place through UK operators is legal and fair,” he says.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting event.

“Such unfaithful has the potential to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise harms the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports wagering.”

The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share info to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

“Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports wagering,” he states.

“We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or curtail [unlawful] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was cautioned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing investigations, which much beneficial details has likewise been passed to sports authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal investigation “in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he says many of those aiming to cheat the sports betting wagering market were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.

“They look for out the vulnerabilities of these to help in their business.”