Betting on sport is big company.

Sport England approximates the value 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 firm Sport & Markt estimates the overall 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 events are hit the gaming market suffers, and revenues are put under risk if consumers can not bet with confidence.

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

High-profile

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

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

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

Three of these gamers have actually 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, however was banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the prohibited approach to him to throw frames.

There are likewise two other continuing investigations - unrelated to Mr Higgins - into snooker.

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is perceived as truthful, straight and fair that benefits betting firms because people will spend money wagering with 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 due to the fact that the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might have to take care about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to experts at a World sports betting Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus needs to be on sportspersons 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 insufficient to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to take on prospective concerns around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor says guidelines need to be described clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they appreciate.

"Through educating players about sports betting you strengthen stability and that remains in everyone's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

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

"Prevention is much better than remedy, 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 directly," he adds.

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

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

FA rules indicate gamers are not permitted to bet on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states gamers have actually to be seen not to be capitalizing any inside understanding, which he states could cause "brand damage" to football and its competitors.

So, even a 2nd Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

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

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to regulate commercial betting in Great Britain.

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

"The frustrating majority of sports betting wagering taking location through UK operators is legal and reasonable," he states.

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

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

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

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

"We will signal sports betting of our concerns, to help prevent or curtail [illegal] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

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

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

Meanwhile, he states numerous of those looking to cheat the sports betting market were experienced about sports betting and sporting people, and about betting operations and the motion of money.

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