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Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself
mayraw74668209 edited this page 2025-01-29 17:11:17 +01:00

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Betting on sport is huge organization.
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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 summer season.
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Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide betting market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports gambling.

But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gambling industry suffers, and revenues are put under hazard if clients can not bet with self-confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting 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 significant market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these gamers have stated they will likewise 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 allegations, however was banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful method 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, one of the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and reasonable that is great for wagering firms since people will spend cash wagering with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering market ... it is not really a favorable story for betting in the UK.

"That is because the perception 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 professionals at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.

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

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

He thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to tackle potential issues around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you strengthen integrity which remains in everybody'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 regulatory legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.

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

"It is imperative that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he adds.

"If it loses that then people don't desire 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 "incalculable".

FA guidelines mean gamers are not allowed to bet on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states players have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he states could cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

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 risk to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

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

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

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he says.

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

"Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also hurts the commercial interests of sports bodies and sports wagering."

The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate info to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much useful details has likewise been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those aiming to cheat the sports betting industry were knowledgeable about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of money.

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