In 2020, IBIA identified 270 wagers that raised suspicion.
In the realm of sports and gambling, the controversial subjects of betting manipulation and unlawful match-fixing have become hot topics of conversation. The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has recently released their 2020 Integrity Report, which reveals that 270 suspicious activities were discovered last year. This number represents an increase compared to 2019, even amidst the COVID-19 crisis. What are the specifics regarding this alarming trend?
A Rise in Table Tennis and eSports
To curb illegal betting acts, the IBIA increased their data protection standards just a few months ago. The new integrity report indicates that 270 questionable betting incidents were identified in 2020. This figure is 47.5% higher than the 183 cases reported in 2019 and matches the level of 2017 and 2018. However, the distribution has changed.
The report reveals that 48 different sports were the subject of these alerts. Notably, the number of reports for table tennis and eSports surged strongly in 2020. With other sports being suspended due to the pandemic, lucrative betting markets have emerged in these two areas. Conversely, tennis and soccer remained the most affected sports, with 98 and 61 alerts, respectively.
Table tennis accounted for 44 alerts - a significant increase from the mere five alerts in 2019. Twenty-six of these alerts were generated during the second quarter of the year alone. eSports, on the other hand, recorded 28 alerts compared to just three in the previous year. Incidentally, 26 alerts were issued in the second and third quarters. These sports were hit hardest by pandemic-related consequences.
2020 was an extraordinary year for numerous sectors, including the betting industry, according to Khalid Ali, CEO of the IBIA. With most sports being shut down globally, the industry shifted its focus to new types of tournaments and competitions, such as eSports. The IBIA aimed to work with new partners to pinpoint potential integrity issues and address them by employing various strategies, including data protection.
The Impact on Countries
The highest number of alerts, 141, concerned European sporting events, primarily table tennis in Ukraine and tennis in Russia, which accounted for 25 and 15 alerts, respectively. Table tennis in Russia gave rise to a further 13 alerts.
Asia, most notably Vietnam, reported 45 alerts, primarily in soccer. Africa and North America trailed closely with 22 alerts each, predominantly in tennis. Tunisia and the USA were the nations with the most affected matches. South American soccer was also implicated, accounting for the remaining 12 alerts.
Out of the 270 alerts, 12 players or teams faced either sporting or legal penalties. A few of these players received lifetime bans owing to match-fixing, principally in the field of tennis. The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has been handing out weekly sanctions.
All these alerts were generated by IBIA member companies, including widespread players like Bet365, Betfred, LeoVegas, and Paddy Power. These companies' security systems issue an alarm when a suspicious bet is placed, such as a conspicuously large wager. They subsequently forward the warning message to the IBIA. If more extensive analysis is required, the necessary governing organizations, supervisory authorities, and bodies are contacted. According to CEO Ali, preventing match-fixing is a critical issue in the sports realm, and standardized practices are being elevated worldwide.
Tennis on the Spotlight
Following the COVID-19 outbreak, Europol had flagged an increase in illegal match-fixing in August 2020. Tennis was singled out as a concerning area. The number of manipulated tennis matches had proliferated notably in recent years. In 2016, only 11 matches were fixed; in 2017, this figure reached 236, albeit dropping slightly to 191 in 2018.
A ZDF report from January revealed a more dire situation, stating that a list of scandals encompassing scores of rigged tennis matches had surfaced. Both men and women were involved in the practice. The bookmakers' warning systems flagged all of these matches due to suspicious wagers.
Swiss tennis pro Johan Nikles (23), who currently holds the 500th position in the ATP rankings, was interviewed about the matter. He confirmed the issue and disclosed that the disclosed list was only the proverbial "tip of the iceberg." The heightened occurrence of match-fixing in tennis is attributed to the limited monetary benefits for players who do not belong to the top caliber. On the contrary, players can quickly accrue significant earnings through illicit match-fixing.
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Source: www.onlinecasinosdeutschland.com
