Betting on sport is huge business.

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

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

But when the integrity of events are hit the gaming market suffers, and incomes are put under danger 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 speak about the sports betting market now.

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

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

Three of these gamers have said they will also challenge the corruption charges mounted 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 banned recently for six months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to throw frames.

There are likewise 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 reasonable that is good for wagering firms due to the fact that people will invest cash wagering with confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK managed wagering industry ... it is not actually a favorable story for betting in the UK.

"That is because 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 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 points out: "The only people who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."

His organisation represents men and females 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 inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, but that the method to take on prospective concerns around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

"Through informing players about sports betting you enhance stability which remains in everybody's interest," he includes.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

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

He said that as soon as an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines mean gamers are not permitted to bank on a competition in which they are included.

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

So, even a 2nd Division gamer 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 players the reputational risk to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate industrial betting 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 majority of sports betting happening through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.

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

"Such cheating has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the business interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting."

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

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still 8 ongoing investigations, and that much helpful info has likewise been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states much of those aiming to cheat the sports betting market were experienced about sports and sporting people, and about betting operations and the movement of cash.

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