Rise in Suspected Gambling Manipulation in Sports Betting: IBIA Records 56 Questionable Cases in Q1 2024
In the ever-evolving world of sports betting, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) is at the forefront of the fight against match-fixing. The organisation, which closely monitors suspicious betting alerts across multiple sports globally, has been enhancing detection methods and collaborating with regulators and operators to improve oversight [1].
This proactive approach is evident in the rising but better-identified integrity alerts recorded by IBIA. In Q2 2024 and Q2 2025, there was a notable increase in these alerts, particularly concentrated in football, tennis, and basketball [1]. This demonstrates both growing concerns and improved integrity monitoring efforts by the association.
Technological advancements, particularly AI, play a crucial role in this combat. AI can enable more sophisticated data analysis and anomaly detection in betting patterns and player behaviour. It can automatically flag irregular betting activity or suspicious in-game actions that may indicate match manipulation, aiding betting operators and integrity bodies like the IBIA to identify potential match-fixing more quickly and accurately [3].
Although the specific AI tools used by IBIA were not directly cited, it is widely recognised in the industry that AI-powered analytics and real-time monitoring technologies are shaping the future of sports integrity enforcement [3]. These advancements can potentially include real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, enhancing the ability to detect corruption even at amateur levels.
Legal frameworks and collaboration with law enforcement are integral to this fight. For instance, Germany’s legal system treats match-fixing as a serious crime, imposing strict penalties, and esports integrity bodies are increasingly cooperating with police and betting companies to root out fixing [2]. This legal deterrent complements technological efforts and IBIA’s alerts and cooperation with regulators.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, expressed that the organisation is on the right track in terms of detecting match-fixing despite the increasing numbers [4]. The IBIA report includes a global alarm and monitoring system based on "evidence-based intelligence" [1]. The association is committed to continuing to work closely with stakeholders and providing this crucial evidence base.
In Q1 2024, the IBIA published a report indicating an increase in suspicions of match-fixing. There were 56 reports of match-fixing suspicions, compared to 34 in Q4 2023 and 50 in the same quarter of the previous year [5]. Football and tennis were particularly affected, with 24 and 14 cases respectively [5].
The majority of the cases were geographically located in Asia, with most in Turkey [6]. It is important to note that the IBIA's findings are supported by global customer data that is only available to IBIA and its members [6].
In other news, the company Sportradar has entered a cooperation with the ATP Tour and ATP Challenger Tour to improve integrity at events [7]. As the fight against match-fixing continues, it is clear that the industry is recognising the potential of AI and data analytics to increase profitability and enhance the integrity of sports betting.
References:
- IBIA Report: Global Alarm and Monitoring System Based on Evidence-Based Intelligence
- Germany Cracks Down on Match-Fixing in Sports
- AI and Sports Integrity: A Powerful Combination
- IBIA CEO: On Track in the Fight Against Match-Fixing
- IBIA Q1 2024 Report: Increase in Match-Fixing Suspicions
- Geographical Distribution of Match-Fixing Cases
- Sportradar and ATP Team Up to Improve Integrity
- What about the potential application of AI in the casino-and-gambling sector, particularly in a casino-and-gambling environment like an online casino, to combat match-fixing and improve the integrity of gaming events?
- The advancements in technology, such as AI and data analytics, are not only transforming sports betting but could also revolutionize casino-and-gambling industries, offering better oversight and detecting suspicious activities more efficiently.
