Betting on sport is huge company.

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

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

Meanwhile, German research firm Sport & Markt approximates the overall global gaming market will deserve 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by internet and sports betting gambling.

But when the integrity of events are struck the gaming market suffers, and earnings are put under threat if consumers can not wager 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 gambling market now.

"Not only is it a significant 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 claims associating with a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have said 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, however was banned recently for six months for stopping working to report the prohibited technique to him to throw frames.

There are also 2 other continuing examinations - unrelated 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 viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that is good for wagering companies since people will spend money betting with self-confidence," he says.

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

"That is due to the fact that the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to be cautious about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to prevent future scandals?

According to specialists at a World sports betting 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 people who can fix a match are the competitors or the referee."

His organisation represents guys and females in 15 sports betting in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player 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 deal with prospective concerns around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be explained plainly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through informing gamers about sports betting you enhance stability and that is in everyone's interest," he includes.

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

'Brand damage'

Matt Johnson, head of regulative legal advice at the Football Association, agrees.

"Prevention is much better than cure, and we likewise make a point of telling players 'you are going to be caught'."

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

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

He stated that as soon as a good track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA guidelines mean gamers are not enabled to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says gamers need to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he says might trigger "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

So, even a 2nd Division player 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 been harmed it is tough 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 established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate business gambling in Great Britain.

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

"The overwhelming majority of sports wagering happening through UK operators is legal and fair," he states.

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

"Such cheating has the possible to undermine the stability of a sport, and it also damages the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and distribute info to sporting authorities, betting companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports of our issues, to help prevent or curtail [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight ongoing examinations, which much useful details has actually also been passed to sports authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were well-informed about sports betting and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.

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