Betting on sport is huge organization.
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Sport England approximates the worth of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

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

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the total worldwide gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.

But when the stability of occasions are hit the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under risk if clients can not wager with self-confidence.

And there can have been couple of 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 only is it a considerable market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by authorities over spot-fixing allegations relating 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited approach to him to toss 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 biggest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that is good for betting firms since individuals will invest cash wagering with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK managed betting market ... it is not truly 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 Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus has 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 insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to tackle prospective concerns around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be explained clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through educating gamers about sports wagering you enhance integrity and that remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

"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, agrees.

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

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

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

FA rules imply gamers are not enabled to wager on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he says could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

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

"We need to get over to players the reputational risk to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline 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 police, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all wagering in the UK apart from spread betting, which is the remit of the FSA.

"The overwhelming majority of sports wagering happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.

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

"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it likewise harms the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports wagering."

The commission has actually developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute details to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will inform sports of our issues, to assist avoid or cut [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 continuous investigations, which much beneficial 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 cost efficient, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he states a lot of those looking to cheat the sports wagering industry were well-informed about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.

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