Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

Sport betting industry aims to protect itself

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

Sport sports betting industry looks to protect itself


16 September 2010


By Bill Wilson


Business reporter, BBC News


sports betting on sport is substantial business.


Sport England approximates the worth of costs on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.


Which figure is most likely to have grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.


Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt approximates the general worldwide gambling 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 hit the gambling market suffers, and incomes are put under danger if consumers can not bet with self-confidence.


And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.


High-profile


As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone speak about the sports betting gambling market now.


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


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 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 accusations, but was banned recently for six months for failing to report the illegal technique to him to throw 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 biggest online sporting exchanges.


"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies due to the fact that people will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he says.


"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not really a positive story for wagering in the UK.


"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to beware about'."


'Education'


So what can be done to prevent future scandals?


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


As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only individuals who can repair 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 believes that it is not adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to take on potential issues around gamers is likewise through education.


Mr Taylor says rules require to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

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

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

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


'Brand damage'

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, agrees.


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


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


"If it loses that then individuals do not want to bet, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."


He stated that as soon as a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".


FA rules indicate gamers are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are involved.


Mr Johnson states players need to be seen not to be cashing in on 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 autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.


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


'Overwhelmingly legal'


If this represents the "carrot" method, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation 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 police, Mr Tofiluk has obligation 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 wagering taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.

Register at Bet9ja using the promotion code YOHAIG for a N100,000 welcome bonus

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


"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."


The commission has established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute info to sporting authorities, sports betting firms and policing authorities.


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


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


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


'Vulnerabilities'


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


However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much useful information has actually also been passed to sports betting authorities.


He stated that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".


Meanwhile, he states a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were knowledgeable about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about sports betting operations and the movement of cash.


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


Related internet links


World sports betting Law Report


ICC


Professional Players Federation


Professional Footballers' Association


The FA


Betfair


Sport & Markt


BLP


Gambling Commission


sandyhiggs367

1 Blog posts

Comments