Betting on sport is big service.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three of these gamers 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 accusations, however was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the unlawful technique 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, one of the UK's biggest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is viewed as honest, straight and fair that benefits wagering companies since individuals will invest money wagering with confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed betting industry ... 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 may have to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

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

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

His organisation represents males and females 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 insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, however that the way to deal with possible concerns around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through informing players about sports betting you reinforce integrity which is in everyone's interest," he adds.

"If gamers are more difficult to corrupt then sport will be more difficult to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal recommendations at the Football Association, concurs.

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

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

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

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

FA rules imply players are not permitted to wager on a competitors in which they are included.

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

So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We need to get over to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has been harmed it is hard 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 control commercial gambling in Great Britain.

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

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

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

"Such unfaithful has the potential to undermine the stability of a sport, and it likewise damages the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

The commission has actually developed an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to get and share details to sporting authorities, betting companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will alert sports betting of our concerns, 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 period 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 says there are still eight continuous examinations, and that much helpful info has actually likewise been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting market were knowledgeable about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.

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