Betting on sport is huge business.

Sport England estimates the worth of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
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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 firm Sport & Markt estimates the overall global gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gambling market suffers, and profits are put under danger if customers can not wager with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

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

"Not just is it a significant market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these gamers have stated 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was banned last week for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful method to him to toss frames.

There are also two other continuing examinations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that is great for betting companies due to the fact that people will invest money betting with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK regulated betting market ... it is not truly a positive story for betting in the UK.

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may need to be careful about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can repair 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 player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He believes that it is not sufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to deal with possible issues around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

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

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

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.

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

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

"If it loses that then people don't want to bet, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that when a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA guidelines indicate gamers are not allowed to bet on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We need to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been harmed it is tough 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 set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business betting in Great Britain.

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

"The frustrating bulk of sports wagering taking place 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 possible to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise harms the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute details to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will inform sports of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [illegal] activity"

In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a confidential telephone hotline for those with details or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'
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But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much useful information has also been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says a number of those seeking to cheat the sports wagering market were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.

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