New MA Sports Gambling Legislation Features Massive Tax Increase & Prohibition on Live Betting

Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

Betting on sport is big business.

Sport England approximates the value of spending on sport-related gambling 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 summer season.

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

But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under hazard 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 & Moore observes: “Everyone discuss the sports gambling market now.

“Not only is it a significant market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims associating with a test against 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 failing to report the unlawful technique to him to throw frames.

There are also 2 other continuing investigations – unrelated 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 perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that is excellent for wagering companies due to the fact that people will invest cash wagering with self-confidence,” he says.

“If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK controlled wagering industry … it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.

“That is due to the fact that 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 experts at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportsmen 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.

He thinks that it is not sufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to tackle potential concerns around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules need to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

“Through educating gamers about sports wagering you enhance stability and that remains 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 suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.

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

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

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

He said that once an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was “incalculable”.

FA rules indicate gamers are not allowed to bet on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states might trigger “brand name damage” to football and its competitions.

So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

“We need to get over to players the reputational danger to the video game,” he states. “Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult 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 set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial betting in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, 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 happening through UK operators is legal and fair,” he states.

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

“Such cheating has the potential to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting.”

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

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

“We will signal sports of our issues, to assist prevent or reduce [prohibited] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, and that much useful information has actually likewise been passed to sports authorities.

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

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

“They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises.”