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Betting on sport is huge service.

Sport England estimates 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 likely to have grown further, with an approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the overall global betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting gaming.
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But when the stability of events are hit the betting market suffers, and incomes are put under hazard if clients can not bet with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

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

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

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing accusations connecting to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have actually said 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 allegations, however was prohibited recently for 6 months for failing to report the unlawful approach to him to throw frames.

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

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and fair that is good for betting firms since people will invest cash betting with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering market ... it is not actually a positive story for betting 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 gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation mentions: "The only people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."

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

He believes that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to deal with possible problems around players is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be explained clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by individuals they appreciate.

"Through informing players about sports wagering you strengthen integrity which remains in everyone's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

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

He said that once an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA rules suggest players are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are included.

Mr Johnson says players need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states might trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

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

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

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" technique, then maybe Nick Tofiluk, director of guideline at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to control commercial betting in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming majority of sports betting 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 event.

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

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

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

"We will inform sports of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [illegal] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has actually been simply one prosecution, a 24-year-old male who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

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

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

Meanwhile, he says numerous of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were experienced about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the movement of cash.

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