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

Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is substantial organization.

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 estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.

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

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gambling market suffers, and profits are put under hazard if consumers can not bet with confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport 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 considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers.”

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

Three of these players have actually said they will likewise 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 accusations, however was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two other continuing examinations – unrelated 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 sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering companies since people will spend money betting with confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed betting market … it is not truly a favorable story for betting 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 prevent future scandals?

According to specialists 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 points out: “The only people 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 thinks that it is not enough to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the way to take on possible concerns around gamers is also through education.

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

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

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

‘Brand damage’

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

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

“It is essential that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight,” he includes.

“If it loses that then people do not wish to wager, that is not in betting companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He said that as soon as a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.

FA rules imply players are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says players have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could trigger “brand name damage” to football and its competitors.

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

“We need to get over to gamers the reputational risk to the game,” he says. “Once self-confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” technique, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial betting in Great Britain.

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

“The overwhelming majority of sports betting occurring 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 unfaithful has the possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise harms the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports wagering.”

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 betting,” he says.

“We will alert sports of our issues, to assist avoid or cut [illegal] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been just one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous investigations, and that much beneficial information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states much of those looking to cheat the sports wagering market were experienced about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.

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