GitLab

Sport sports betting market looks to safeguard itself

16 September 2010

By Bill Wilson

Business reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is huge company.

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

Which figure is likely to have actually grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the total international gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.

But when the integrity of events are struck the sports betting market suffers, and earnings are put under risk if clients can not bet with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

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

"Not just is it a significant market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these gamers 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, but was banned last week for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful technique to him to throw frames.

There are also 2 other continuing investigations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits sports betting companies because individuals will invest cash sports betting with confidence," he states.

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

"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might have to be careful about'."
bit.ly
'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportspersons 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 females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
bit.ly
He thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the method to tackle potential issues around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be described plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

"Through informing players about sports betting you enhance integrity and that is in everyone's interest," he includes.

"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 much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."

"It is imperative that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he adds.

"If it loses that then individuals do not wish to wager, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

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

FA guidelines indicate players are not enabled to bet 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 says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd 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 have to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

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

"The frustrating bulk of sports betting wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting occasion.

"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."
bit.ly
The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share details to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
bet9ja.com
"Since 2007 we have a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply 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 8 continuous investigations, and that much beneficial information has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the motion of money.
bet9ja.com
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."

Related internet links

World sports betting Law Report

ICC

Professional Players Federation
bet9ja.com
Professional Footballers' Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt

BLP
bet9ja.com
Gambling Commission

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites.