Betting on sport is huge service.

Sport England estimates the worth of costs on sport-related betting 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 approximated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

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

But when the stability of events are hit the betting market suffers, and earnings are put under danger if customers can not wager with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting gambling 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 been questioned by police over spot-fixing claims relating to a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have stated they will also 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 prohibited method 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, among the UK's most significant online sporting exchanges.

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

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed wagering market ... it is not actually a positive story for wagering in the UK.

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

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to specialists at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation points out: "The only individuals who can repair a match are the rivals or the referee."

His organisation represents guys 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 insufficient to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with prospective issues around gamers is likewise through education.

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

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

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

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

He stated that once a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines imply gamers are not allowed to bank on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says could cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

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

"We need to overcome to players the reputational danger to the video game," he says. "Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business betting in Great Britain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"We will notify sports of our concerns, to assist avoid or reduce [prohibited] 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 duration there has been just one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old man who was cautioned for unfaithful in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 ongoing investigations, which much beneficial information has actually also 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 terminating a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

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

"They seek out the vulnerabilities of these to assist in their enterprises."