Sport Betting Industry Aims To Protect Itself

Vue d'ensemble

  • Date de création 11 avril 1943
  • Secteurs Hôtellerie/Restauration
  • Offres de stage et d'emploi 0
  • Nombre d'employés 11-20

Description de l'entreprise

Sport Betting Industry Looks To Protect Itself

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Betting on sport is huge business.

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Sport England estimates the value of costs 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 actually grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer season.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the general global gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports gaming.

But when the stability of events are hit the gaming industry suffers, and profits are put under risk if clients can not bet with self-confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport betting stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt’s Gareth Moore observes: “Everyone speak about the sports gambling market now.

“Not just is it a considerable market in world company, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers.”

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing claims associating with a test versus England at Lord’s last month.

Three of these players have 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, however was banned recently for six months for failing to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.

There are likewise 2 other continuing examinations – not related 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 truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms since individuals will invest money wagering with confidence,” he states.

“If you take the Pakistan claims, although unrelated to the UK controlled betting industry … it is not really a favorable story for wagering in the UK.

“That is since the perception is that ‘cricket is now something we may need to be careful about’.”

‘Education’

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation points out: “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 not enough to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to tackle possible concerns around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules need to be described clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

“Through educating gamers about sports betting you strengthen stability and that remains in everyone’s interest,” he adds.

“If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt.”

‘Brand damage’

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

“Prevention is much better than remedy, and we also make a point of informing gamers ‘you are going to be caught’.”

“It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be directly,” he adds.

“If it loses that then people do not wish to bet, that is not in gaming companies’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”

He stated that when a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.

FA guidelines imply players are not allowed to bank on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might trigger “brand 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 last the following spring.

“We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the game,” he states. “Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is difficult to get it back – mud sticks.”

‘Overwhelmingly legal’

If this represents the “carrot” approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.

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

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

“The frustrating majority of sports wagering taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he says.

“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting event.

“Such unfaithful has the potential to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise damages the business interests of sports bodies and sports betting.”

The commission has established 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 considerable insight into world of corrupt sports wagering,” he says.

“We will notify sports of our concerns, to assist prevent or curtail [illegal] activity”

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

‘Vulnerabilities’

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was warned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight continuous examinations, which much helpful details has also been passed to sports authorities.

He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would consider terminating a criminal investigation “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.

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Meanwhile, he states many of those wanting to cheat the sports wagering market were well-informed about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.

“They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business.”

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