bet9ja-promotion-code-yohaig

Sport wagering industry looks to protect itself

16 September 2010
bet9ja.com
By Bill Wilson

Business press reporter, BBC News

sports betting on sport is big organization.

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 most likely to have actually 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 total global gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of events are struck the gaming industry suffers, and are put under hazard if customers can not bet with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of 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 gambling market now.

"Not only is it a substantial market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing claims relating to a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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 accusations, however was prohibited last week for six months for failing to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.

There are likewise two other continuing investigations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.
bet9ja.com
"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that is good for sports betting firms because individuals will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.

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

"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to take care about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to specialists at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports betting gambling, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."

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

He believes that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to tackle prospective problems around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says rules need to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through educating players about sports betting you enhance stability which remains in everyone's interest," he includes.

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

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.

"Prevention is much 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 individuals do not wish to wager, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that as soon as a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
bit.ly
FA guidelines mean gamers are not enabled to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could 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 bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We need to overcome to players the reputational threat to the game," he says. "Once confidence has actually been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

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

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

"The frustrating majority of sports betting wagering taking place through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting event.

"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

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

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

"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or cut [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'
bet9ja.com
But in a two-and-a-half year period there has been just one 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, which much useful information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

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

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

Related web links

World sports betting Law Report

ICC

Professional Players Federation

Professional Footballers' Association

The FA

Betfair

Sport & Markt
bet9ja.com
BLP

Gambling Commission
bet9ja.com