Betting on sport is big business.

Sport England estimates the worth of spending 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 actually grown further, with an estimated ₤ 1bn bet on the World Cup alone in the UK this summer.

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

But when the integrity of events are struck the betting industry suffers, and revenues are put under risk if customers can not wager with confidence.

And there can have been few higher-profile sport wagering stories than those affecting 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 considerable market in world service, it is one that is now on the front pages of newspapers."

Four Pakistan cricketers have been questioned by cops over spot-fixing accusations associating with a test against England at Lord's last month.

Three of these players have actually said they will also challenge the corruption charges installed 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 allegations, but was banned last week for 6 months for failing to report the prohibited technique to him to toss 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 perceived as sincere, straight and fair that benefits betting companies due to the fact that people will spend cash wagering with self-confidence," he says.

"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK regulated betting market ... it is not truly a positive story for betting in the UK.

"That is because the perception is that 'cricket is now something we may need to beware about'."

'Education'

So what can be done to avoid future scandals?

According to experts at a World Sports Law Report conference into sports gambling, the focus has to be on sportsmen and sportswomen.

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

His organisation represents men and ladies 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 adequate to merely have deterrents, sanctions and disciplinary treatments, however that the way to deal with potential problems around players is also through education.

Mr Taylor states guidelines require to be explained clearly to players with clear examples, and by individuals they respect.

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

"If gamers are harder to corrupt then sport will be harder to corrupt."

'Brand damage'

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

"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 straight, and is seen to be directly," he adds.

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

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

FA guidelines suggest players are not enabled to wager on a competitors in which they are involved.

Mr Johnson says players have to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitions.

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

"We have to get over to gamers the reputational risk to the video game," he states. "Once confidence has actually been damaged it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."

'Overwhelmingly legal'

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

The Gambling Commission was set up under the Gambling Act 2005 to control industrial betting in Great Britain.

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

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

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

"Such unfaithful has the prospective to weaken the integrity of a sport, and it also harms the industrial interests of sports bodies and sports betting."

The commission has established an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate information to sporting authorities, wagering companies and policing authorities.

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

"We will notify sports betting of our issues, to assist avoid or cut [prohibited] activity"

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

'Vulnerabilities'

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

However, Mr Tofiluk states there are still 8 continuous examinations, which much useful info has actually also been passed to sports authorities.

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

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

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