Betting on sport is big business.

Sport England approximates the worth 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 likely to have 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 overall worldwide betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports gaming.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under hazard if consumers can not wager with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport betting 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 just is it a considerable market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing accusations connecting to a test versus 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, however was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing examinations - not associated 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 viewed as honest, straight and fair that is excellent for wagering firms due to the fact that individuals will spend money betting with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK controlled wagering industry ... it is not truly a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may have to be careful 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 has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."

His organisation represents guys and ladies 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 insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the method to deal with prospective problems around gamers is likewise through education.

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

"Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance stability which remains in everyone'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, concurs.

"Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."

"It is necessary that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he includes.

"If it loses that then people do not desire to wager, that is not in betting firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that as soon as a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
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FA rules suggest players are not permitted to bank on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

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 have to overcome to gamers the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

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

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

"The frustrating majority of sports wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.
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"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting occasion.

"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports wagering."

The commission has developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share information to sporting authorities, betting companies and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he says.

"We will inform sports of our issues, to help avoid or reduce [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous investigations, and that much useful info has likewise been passed to sports authorities.

He said 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 governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he states much of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.

"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
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