Betting on sport is huge company.

Sport England approximates the worth of spending 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 estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

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

But when the stability of events are hit the gambling industry suffers, and earnings are put under hazard if customers can not wager with confidence.

And there can have been couple of higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting cricket and snooker this year.

High-profile

As Sport & Markt's Gareth Moore observes: "Everyone discuss the sports betting market now.

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

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

Three of these players have stated they will also challenge the corruption charges installed 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 accusations, however was prohibited last week for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited approach to him to toss frames.

There are also 2 other continuing examinations - not associated 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 honest, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms since individuals will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan allegations, although unrelated to the UK managed betting market ... it is not really a favorable story for betting in the UK.

"That is because the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we may have to be careful about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

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

His organisation represents males 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 merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to deal with potential issues around gamers is also through education.

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

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

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

'Brand damage'

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

"Prevention is much better than treatment, and we likewise make a point of informing players '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 people don't wish to bet, that is not in gambling firms' interests, and it is not in our interests."

He said that once an excellent credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA rules imply players are not allowed to bet on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says 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 bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We need to overcome to players the reputational danger 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" method, then perhaps Nick Tofiluk, director of regulation at the Gambling Commission, represents the "stick".

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

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

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

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

"Such cheating has the possible to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also hurts the business 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, wagering firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will inform sports betting of our concerns, to help avoid or reduce [illegal] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

But in a two-and-a-half year duration there has been simply one criminal prosecution, a 24-year-old guy who was warned for cheating in relation to greyhound racing.

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 continuous examinations, 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 effective, then the commission would think about discontinuing a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports betting governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he states a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were well-informed about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.

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