Betting on sport is huge business.

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

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the general global gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports betting.

But when the stability of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and profits are put under hazard if clients can not bet with 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 only is it a considerable market in world organization, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

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

Three of these players have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 allegations, but was prohibited recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited approach to him to throw 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 greatest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is perceived as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies due to the fact that individuals will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK managed betting market ... it is not actually a positive story for betting in the UK.

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

So what can be done to avoid 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 mentions: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the competitors or the referee."

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

He thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the way to deal with prospective issues around players is also through education.

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

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you strengthen integrity which is 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 regulative legal guidance at the Football Association, concurs.

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

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

"If it loses that then people don't wish to bet, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

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

FA rules mean gamers are not permitted to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.
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Mr Johnson states players have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might trigger "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

So, even a 2nd Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not wager on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.
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"We have to get over to players the reputational threat to the video game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial gambling 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 betting, which is the remit of the FSA.

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

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

"Such unfaithful has the prospective to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

The commission has developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year period there has actually been just one criminal 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 investigations, and that much helpful details has likewise 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 think about ceasing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he states a lot of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.

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