International Scheme Behind Suspicious Wagers in Ping-Pong uncovered.
A string of suspicious bets on table tennis has resulted in the dismantling of a large match-fixing group operating in Spain. The scheme didn't just involve table tennis matches, as authorities discovered that almost no sport was safe from manipulation.
The Spanish National Police, working with the Spanish Tax Agency, Europol, and Interpol, took down the organized crime syndicate. Members of the gang now face charges for altering sports events and employing advanced technology to bet on guaranteed outcomes.
So far, 23 people have been arrested, including a key figure in the organization. An Interpol Red Notice led to this individual's arrest, and more arrests are expected in the coming weeks.
Tracking the Timeline
The operation supposedly traces back to 2020 when Spanish police stumbled upon a questionable online sports betting scheme during an international table tennis tournament. Upon further analysis, cops managed to uncover a complex criminal network from Romania and Bulgaria.
Investigators later uncovered a global network of criminals with access to insider information akin to what bookmakers possessed. They hacked into broadcasts from stadiums and arenas worldwide, capturing the streams before sportsbooks could access them.
By intercepting these signals, the criminals gained an advantage over sportsbooks, who rely on slow satellite transmissions and rebroadcasts to release live lines. This allowed the criminals to place their bets before the sportsbooks could adjust to changes in the matches.
The group also engaged in direct game manipulation. They were able to persuade athletes across various sports to throw games in exchange for payment.
There was no limit to the extent of the gang's influence – they targeted any sport where they could turn a profit. Their targets ranged from Asian and South American soccer tournaments to the European Nations League, Germany's Bundesliga, the 2022 World Cup, the ATP, and more.
More Information In the Works
Officials haven't released the names of those involved yet, except for one - Juan Gayá Salom. A prominent sports betting sharpshooter in Spain, Salom is believed to be one of the primary individuals behind the match-fixing.
Salom was even said to have purchased a regional soccer club in Palma de Mallorca to maintain control over it for his criminal activities. When the police operation started, he abandoned the club in an attempt to hide his involvement.
Despite their substantial profits, the group remained hidden by using various identities, some of which they stole. Authorities confiscated 47 financial accounts from different countries and seized boxes of incriminating evidence during the raid.
The evidence includes computers, mobile devices, and more, all of which will lead to additional arrests in Spain and other nations. There's speculation that multiple politicians, and potentially the former president of a country yet to be revealed, may be on investigators' radar.
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Source: www.casino.org
