Betting on sport is substantial company.

Sport England estimates the value of spending on sport-related gaming in England grew from ₤ 1.7 bn in 1985 to ₤ 2.8 bn in 2008.

And that figure is likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research study firm Sport & Markt estimates the general international gambling market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.
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But when the stability of events are struck the gaming industry suffers, and earnings are put under risk if clients can not wager with 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 talks about the sports betting gambling market now.

"Not just is it a considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."
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Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by police over spot-fixing allegations relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
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Three of these gamers have stated 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, however was prohibited last week for six months for stopping working to report the illegal method to him to throw frames.

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

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms because people will spend cash betting with self-confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, 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 careful about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to professionals 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 points out: "The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."

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

He believes that it is not adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the method to deal with prospective problems around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be discussed plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you strengthen stability which is in everybody's interest," he includes.

"If players are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulatory legal recommendations at the Football Association, agrees.

"Prevention is better than remedy, and we also make a point of telling gamers 'you are going to be captured'."

"It is crucial that sport is straight, and is seen to be straight," he includes.

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

He said that when a great track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules suggest players are not enabled to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states gamers have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says 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 bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

"We need to overcome to gamers the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" method, 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 regulate industrial betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering occurring through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.

"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 hurts the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

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 significant insight into world of corrupt sports betting," he states.

"We will signal sports betting of our issues, to help prevent or curtail [unlawful] activity"

In May 2010, the commission also presented a private telephone hotline for those with info or suspicions.

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 continuous investigations, and that much useful info has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more cost efficient, then the commission would think about terminating a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he states much of those seeking to cheat the sports betting wagering market were experienced about sports and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the movement of money.

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