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

Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is huge business.

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.

Which figure is most likely to have grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total global betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.

But when the integrity of occasions are struck the betting industry suffers, and revenues are put under threat if customers can not wager with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

As Sport & Markt’s Gareth Moore observes: “Everyone talks about the sports betting market now.

“Not just is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test against England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these players have actually stated they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 claims, however was prohibited recently for six months for failing to report the unlawful approach to him to throw frames.

There are likewise two other continuing examinations – not related to Mr Higgins – into snooker.

‘Honest’

David O’Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK’s most significant online sporting exchanges.

“If the sport is perceived as honest, straight and fair that is great for wagering firms since individuals will invest money betting with self-confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK regulated wagering industry … it is not really a positive story for wagering in the UK.

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

‘Education’

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation points out: “The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee.”

His organisation represents men and ladies in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers’ Association.

He thinks that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to deal with prospective issues around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

“Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance stability and that is in everybody’s interest,” he adds.

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

‘Brand damage’

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

“Prevention is better than treatment, and we also make a point of telling players ‘you are going to be caught’.”

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

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

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

FA guidelines suggest gamers are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might trigger “brand damage” to football and its competitors.

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

“We need to get over to players the reputational risk to the video game,” he states. “Once self-confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” technique, 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 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 occurring through UK operators is legal and fair,” he states.

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

“Such cheating has the potential to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise harms the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports betting.”

The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

“Since 2007 we have actually experienced a substantial insight into world of corrupt sports wagering,” he says.

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

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous examinations, which much useful info has also been passed to sports authorities.

He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.

Meanwhile, he states much of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were well-informed about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.

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