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Betting on sport is huge business.

Sport England approximates 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 actually grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

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

But when the integrity of events are hit the gaming industry suffers, and revenues are put under risk if customers can not wager with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

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

"Not just is it a substantial market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing claims relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.
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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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, but was banned last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.

There are also two other continuing investigations - not related to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms due to the fact that people will spend cash betting with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unrelated to the UK controlled betting market ... it is not truly a positive story for betting in the UK.

"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to take care about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."
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His organisation represents men and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all gamer organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He thinks that it is not enough to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to deal with potential problems around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be described clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you enhance stability and that remains in everybody's interest," he includes.

"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 much better than cure, and we also make a point of informing gamers 'you are going to be caught'."

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

"If it loses that then people don't desire to bet, that is not in gaming companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He stated that as soon as an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines mean gamers are not enabled to bet on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitions.

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

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

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then possibly 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 betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming bulk of sports betting wagering taking location through UK operators is legal and fair," he says.

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the result of a sporting event.

"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has actually established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate info to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or reduce [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight continuous examinations, and that much helpful details has actually likewise been passed to sports authorities.

He said that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense effective, then the commission would consider ceasing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".
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Meanwhile, he states a lot of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.

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