Betting on sport is big company.
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.
Which figure is likely to have 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 global betting market will be worth 263bn euros (₤ 220bn) by 2012, with much of that driven by web and sports gambling.
But when the stability of events are struck the gambling industry suffers, and incomes are put under risk if consumers can not wager 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 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 police over spot-fixing claims relating to a test versus England at Lord's last month.
Three of these gamers have actually said 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 champion John Higgins was cleared of match-fixing accusations, but was prohibited last week for 6 months for failing to report the illegal method to him to throw 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 biggest online sporting exchanges.
"If the sport is viewed as sincere, straight and reasonable that is excellent for betting firms because people will spend money betting with self-confidence," he says.
"If you take the Pakistan accusations, although unassociated to the UK managed betting industry ... it is not really a positive story for wagering in the UK.
"That is since the understanding is that 'cricket is now something we might 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 betting, the focus needs to be on sportspersons and sportswomen.
As Simon Taylor of the Professional Players' Federation explains: "The only people who can fix a match are the rivals or the referee."
His organisation represents guys and ladies in 15 sports 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 tackle potential problems around gamers is likewise through education.
Mr Taylor states rules need to be discussed clearly to gamers with clear examples, and by people they respect.
"Through educating players about sports betting you reinforce stability which 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 regulative legal suggestions at the Football Association, agrees.
"Prevention is better than cure, and we also make a point of telling 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 desire to wager, that is not in gambling companies' interests, and it is not in our interests."
He stated that once a great credibility was lost, the damage to a sport was "enormous".
FA guidelines imply players are not permitted to bank on a competitors in which they are included.
Mr Johnson states gamers have actually to be seen not to be cashing in on any inside understanding, which he says might cause "brand name damage" to football and its competitors.
So, even a Second Division gamer knocked out of the FA Cup in the autumn can not bank on a Manchester United v Chelsea cup last the following spring.
"We need to get over to gamers the reputational danger to the game," he states. "Once confidence has been harmed it is hard to get it back - mud sticks."
'Overwhelmingly legal'
If this represents the "carrot" technique, then perhaps 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 cops, Mr Tofiluk has responsibility for policing all betting 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 disrupt the result of a sporting event.
"Such unfaithful has the possible to weaken the stability of a sport, and it also damages the business interests of sports bodies and sports betting."
The commission has developed an internal Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to receive and disseminate details to sporting authorities, wagering firms and policing authorities.
"Since 2007 we have experienced a significant insight into world of corrupt sports wagering," he states.
"We will alert sports of our issues, to assist prevent or curtail [illegal] activity"
In May 2010, the commission likewise introduced a confidential telephone hotline for those with details 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 ongoing investigations, and that much beneficial info has actually also been passed to sports authorities.
He stated that where an examination by a sport governing body was quicker, and more expense efficient, then the commission would think about stopping a criminal examination "in favour of letting sports governing bodies take the lead".
Meanwhile, he says many of those wanting to cheat the sports betting industry were well-informed about sports and sporting people, and about wagering operations and the movement of cash.
"They look for the vulnerabilities of these to help in their enterprises."
