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Betting on sport is substantial company.
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Sport England approximates the value of costs 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 most 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 approximates the general global gaming market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the integrity of events are struck the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under danger if consumers 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 gambling market now.

"Not only is it a considerable market in world business, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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 gamers have actually stated they will also 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, but was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited method to him to toss frames.

There are also two other continuing examinations - not associated 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 fair that is excellent for betting companies because individuals will invest money betting with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK managed betting industry ... it is not really a positive story for wagering in the UK.

"That is due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might need to beware 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 has to be on sportspersons 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 males and ladies in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He believes that it is insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the method to deal with prospective issues around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor says rules require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

"Through educating gamers about sports betting you strengthen integrity which is in everyone's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

"If it loses that then people don't 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 "incalculable".

FA rules suggest gamers are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are included.

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

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

"We have to overcome to players the reputational threat to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation 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 police, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all betting in the UK apart from spread wagering, 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 hinder the result of a sporting occasion.

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

The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and distribute info to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports of our issues, to help prevent or cut [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has 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 8 continuous investigations, and that much helpful information has likewise been passed to sports authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, 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 much of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were educated about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of money.

"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."