Betting on sport is substantial business.

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.

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

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

But when the integrity of occasions are struck the gambling industry suffers, and incomes are put under hazard if consumers can not bet with self-confidence.

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

High-profile

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

"Not only 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 relating to a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for stopping working to report the illegal approach to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two other continuing investigations - not associated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

David O'Reilly is legal counsel for Betfair, one of the UK's greatest online sporting exchanges.

"If the sport is perceived as sincere, straight and reasonable that benefits betting firms because people will invest money wagering with self-confidence," he says.

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

"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might have to be careful 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 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 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 inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to tackle possible problems around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules need to be explained plainly to players with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through educating gamers about sports betting wagering you reinforce integrity and that remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

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

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

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

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

FA guidelines indicate gamers are not permitted to bank on a competition in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson states players have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside knowledge, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

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

"We need to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has actually been damaged it is difficult to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage business gaming in Great Britain.

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

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

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

"Such unfaithful has the possible to undermine the stability of a sport, and it likewise hurts the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports betting wagering."

The commission has actually developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute details to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight continuous examinations, and that much beneficial information has actually also been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states many of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about betting operations and the motion of cash.

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