Betting on sport is big company.

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

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

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

But when the stability of events are hit the betting industry suffers, and profits are put under danger if consumers can not wager with confidence.

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

High-profile

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

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

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing allegations associating with 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing claims, but was prohibited last week for six months for failing to report the unlawful technique to him to toss frames.

There are also 2 other continuing investigations - 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 is great for wagering companies since people will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he states.

"If you take the Pakistan claims, although unassociated to the UK controlled wagering 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 need to be cautious about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to experts at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports betting, the focus has 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 competitors or the referee."

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

He believes that it is not enough to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to tackle possible problems around gamers is also through education.

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

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

"If gamers 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, concurs.

"Prevention is much better than cure, and we also 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 includes.

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

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

FA rules imply gamers are not enabled to wager on a competition in which they are involved.

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

So, even a Second Division player knocked out of the FA Cup in the fall can not bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.

"We have to overcome to gamers the reputational risk to the game," he says. "Once self-confidence has been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then maybe 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 gaming in Great Britain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"We will signal sports of our concerns, to assist avoid or curtail [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still eight ongoing investigations, which much useful details has actually also 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 consider stopping a criminal investigation "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".

Meanwhile, he says a number of those looking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports and sporting individuals, and about wagering operations and the motion of cash.

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