bit.ly
Sport wagering industry wants to protect itself
bet9ja.com
16 September 2010
By Bill Wilson
Business reporter, BBC News
sports betting on sport is big organization.
Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is likely to have grown even more, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.
Meanwhile, German research study company Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide sports betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the stability of events are struck the gaming industry suffers, and earnings are put under danger if customers can not bet with confidence.
And there can have been few higher-profile sport sports 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 only 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 cops over spot-fixing accusations associating with a test versus 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, but was banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the prohibited technique to him to toss 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 most significant online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that benefits sports betting firms due to the fact that people will spend money sports betting with confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled betting industry ... it is not really a favorable story for sports betting in the UK.
"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be cautious about'."
'Education'
So what can be done to prevent future scandals?
According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.
He thinks that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on potential problems around players is also through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they .
bet9ja.com
"Through educating players about sports betting you reinforce stability which is in everyone's interest," he includes.
"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."
'Brand damage'
Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be captured'."
"It is necessary that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly," he adds.
"If it loses that then individuals don't desire to bet, that is not in gaming firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He said that when an excellent reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".
FA rules mean gamers are not permitted to wager on a competition in which they are included.
Mr Johnson says gamers have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states might cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.
bit.ly
So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
"We need to get over to players the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" approach, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business gambling in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has duty for policing all sports betting in the UK apart from spread sports betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting taking place through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.
"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly hinder the result of a sporting event.
bet9ja.com
"Such unfaithful has the possible to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."
The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share info to sporting authorities, betting companies and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have actually experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting wagering," he states.
"We will inform sports betting of our issues, to help avoid or reduce [unlawful] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a personal telephone hotline for those with information 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 unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous investigations, which much helpful information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense reliable, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he states a lot of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were experienced about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.
"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business."
Related web links
World sports betting Law Report
ICC
Professional Players Federation
Professional Footballers' Association
The FA
Betfair
Sport & Markt
BLP
bet9ja.com
Gambling Commission
The BBC is not accountable for the material of external websites.
bet9ja.com
1
Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
sammyy82534907 edited this page 4 weeks ago