
Latest MA Sports Betting Bill Includes Massive Tax Boost & Restriction on Live Betting
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Sport Betting Industry Seeks To Protect Itself
Betting on sport is huge business.
Sport England estimates the value of spending on sport-related betting in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.
Which figure is likely to have actually grown even more, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.
Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt estimates the general international betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting.
But when the integrity of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and incomes are put under danger if consumers 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 significant 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 accusations connecting to a test against England at Lord’s last month.
Three of these players have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges installed 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, however was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.
There are likewise two other continuing investigations – not associated 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 sincere, straight and fair that is excellent for wagering companies due to the fact that individuals will invest money wagering with confidence,” he says.
“If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK controlled betting market … it is not actually a favorable story for wagering in the UK.
“That is since the understanding is that ‘cricket is now something we might need to take care about’.”
‘Education’
So what can be done to avoid future scandals?
According to experts at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players’ Federation mentions: “The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee.”
His organisation represents men and ladies 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 procedures, however that the method to take on prospective problems around players is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states guidelines need to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.
“Through informing gamers about sports wagering you reinforce integrity and that remains in everyone’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 guidance at the Football Association, concurs.
“Prevention is better than treatment, and we likewise make a point of telling gamers ‘you are going to be caught’.”
“It is vital that sport is directly, and is seen to be directly,” he adds.
“If it loses that then individuals don’t want to wager, that is not in betting firms’ interests, and it is not in our interests.”
He said that as soon as a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was “enormous”.
FA rules suggest gamers 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 states could cause “brand name damage” to football and its competitions.
So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
“We need to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the game,” he states. “Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back – mud sticks.”
‘Overwhelmingly legal’
If this represents the “carrot” method, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of policy at the Gambling Commission, represents the “stick”.
The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business betting in Great Britain.
An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread betting, which is the remit of the FSA.
“The frustrating majority of sports betting occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable,” he says.
“But for some there is the temptation to … corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting event.
“Such cheating has the prospective to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports betting bodies and sports wagering.”
The commission has developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate details to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.
“Since 2007 we have actually experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports betting,” he states.
“We will alert sports of our concerns, to help prevent or reduce [unlawful] activity”
In May 2010, the commission likewise presented a confidential 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 cheating in relation to greyhound racing.
However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing examinations, and that much helpful information has likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.
He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would consider stopping a criminal examination “in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead”.
Meanwhile, he states a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were well-informed about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
“They look for the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their business.”