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Betting on sport is huge company.

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

Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt estimates the general international gambling market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

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

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

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

"Not just is it a substantial market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of papers."
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Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, however was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.

There are also 2 other continuing examinations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, among the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms since people will spend cash wagering with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK regulated wagering industry ... it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may need to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

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

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

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

He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to take on prospective concerns around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines require to be discussed plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you reinforce integrity which is in everybody's interest," he adds.
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"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, concurs.

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

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

"If it loses that then people do not desire to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that as soon as a good credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines imply players are not allowed to bet on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states gamers have to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage industrial gaming in Great Britain.

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

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

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly disrupt the outcome of a sporting occasion.

"Such unfaithful has the potential to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share details to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

"Since 2007 we have experienced a considerable insight into world of corrupt sports wagering," he says.

"We will inform sports of our concerns, to help avoid or cut [unlawful] activity"

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

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing examinations, and that much helpful info has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states numerous of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were experienced about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the movement of money.

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