Betting on sport is huge organization.

Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related gambling in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

And that 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 study company Sport & Markt estimates the general international gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gambling.
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But when the stability of events are hit the betting industry 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 wagering stories than those impacting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

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

"Not just is it a considerable market in world business, 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 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 claims, but was prohibited last week for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two other continuing investigations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.
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'Honest'

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

"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and reasonable that is great for betting companies because individuals will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he says.

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

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be cautious 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 needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."

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

He thinks that it is inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with possible issues around gamers is likewise through education.

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

"Through educating gamers about sports betting you enhance integrity which 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 regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, concurs.

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

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

"If it loses that then individuals don't wish to wager, that is not in betting companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that as soon as an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA guidelines mean players are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says players have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he states could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

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

"We have to get over to gamers the reputational threat to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".
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The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering taking place 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 occasion.

"Such unfaithful has the potential to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the business interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate details to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

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

In May 2010, the commission also introduced a private telephone hotline for those with info 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 cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing examinations, and that much beneficial information has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

He said that where an investigation by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost reliable, then the commission would consider discontinuing a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he says many of those seeking to cheat the sports betting wagering industry were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about betting operations and the movement of money.

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