Betting on sport is big business.

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

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

Meanwhile, German research company Sport & Markt approximates the overall worldwide gambling 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 hit the gaming industry suffers, and profits are put under threat if customers can not wager 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 speak about the sports betting market now.

"Not only is it a substantial market in world company, 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 connecting to a test versus England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have actually said they will likewise challenge the corruption charges mounted versus the trio by the sport governing body the International Cricket Council.

Meanwhile, three-times snooker world champ John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing allegations, however was banned recently for six months for stopping working to report the unlawful approach to him to throw frames.

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

'Honest'

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

"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and fair that benefits wagering firms because people will spend money betting with confidence," he states.

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

"That is since 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 specialists at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus needs to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only individuals who can fix a match are the rivals 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 inadequate to simply have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary procedures, but that the way to deal with possible problems around gamers is likewise through education.

Mr Taylor states rules require to be described plainly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

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

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

'Brand damage'

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

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

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

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

He stated that once an excellent track record was lost, the damage to a sport was "incalculable".

FA guidelines indicate players are not enabled to bank on a competition in which they are included.

Mr Johnson states players 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 bet on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup final the following spring.

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

'Overwhelmingly legal'

If this represents the "carrot" approach, then perhaps 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 industrial betting in Great Britain.

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

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

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

"Such unfaithful has the potential to undermine the integrity of a sport, and it likewise hurts the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports wagering."

The commission has actually established an in-house Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and share details to sporting authorities, betting firms and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports of our issues, to assist prevent or cut [unlawful] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

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

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

Meanwhile, he says a lot of those seeking to cheat the sports betting industry were educated about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.

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