Betting on sport is huge organization.

Sport England estimates the value 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 likely to have grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summertime.

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

But when the stability of occasions are hit the betting industry suffers, and revenues are put under threat if consumers can not bet 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 gambling market now.

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

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

Three of these gamers have actually 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 champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, however was banned recently for 6 months for stopping working to report the prohibited method to him to toss frames.

There are likewise two other continuing examinations - unrelated 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 viewed as honest, straight and reasonable that benefits wagering companies because people will invest cash betting with self-confidence," he says.

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

"That is since the perception is that 'cricket is now something we might need to take care about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

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

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can repair a match are the competitors or the referee."

His organisation represents males and females in 15 sports in the UK, being an umbrella organisation for all player organisations, such as the Professional Footballers' Association.

He thinks that it is inadequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the method to take on potential problems around gamers is also through education.

Mr Taylor says rules need to be discussed clearly to players with clear examples, and by people they respect.

"Through informing players about sports betting you strengthen integrity and that remains in everybody's interest," he adds.

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

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

He said that as soon as a good reputation was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".

FA rules mean players are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are included.

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

So, even a 2nd 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 have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he states. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is tough to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was established under the Gambling Act 2005 to manage commercial gaming in Great Britain.

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

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

"But for some there is the temptation to ... corruptly interfere with the outcome of a sporting event.

"Such cheating has the potential to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it also damages the commercial interests of sports betting bodies and sports wagering."

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

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

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

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk says there are still eight continuous examinations, which much helpful info has actually likewise been passed to sports betting authorities.

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

Meanwhile, he states many of those seeking to cheat the sports wagering market were experienced about sports betting and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the movement of money.

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