Betting on sport is huge business.

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

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

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

But when the integrity of occasions are hit the gaming industry suffers, and profits are put under hazard if clients can not bet with 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 talks about the sports betting market now.

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

Four Pakistan cricketers have actually been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful method to him to throw frames.

There are also 2 other continuing investigations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering firms since people will invest money betting with confidence," he states.

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

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

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to professionals at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus needs to be on sportspersons 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 men and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He thinks that it is insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to deal with possible concerns around gamers is likewise through education.

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

"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you enhance stability which is 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 regulatory legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.

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

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

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

He said that as soon as a great reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines indicate gamers are not enabled to bet on a competitors in which they are included.

Mr Johnson says gamers have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside knowledge, which he states could trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

So, even a Second 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.

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

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, 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 industrial gaming in Great Britain.

An ex-chief constable of West Midlands cops, Mr Tofiluk has obligation for policing all wagering 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 hinder the outcome of a sporting event.

"Such unfaithful has the potential to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the commercial 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 companies and policing authorities.

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing examinations, and that much helpful information has also been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says much of those seeking to cheat the sports wagering industry were experienced about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.

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