Strengthening Integrity in Latin American Sports Betting: Aposta Gana Joins International Betting Integrity Association
Latin American sports betting operator Aposta Ganha jumps aboard the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), reinforcing the organization's presence in the region.
Catering to a more diverse market, Aposta Ganha, a six-year-old operator, is eyeing global expansion, particularly in Brazil where a regulatory shift mandates that all betting operators affiliate with a monitoring body. Joining forces with IBIA, the company will funnel data into their world-leading integrity monitoring network—a global alliance of over 50 sports betting companies operating across 125 betting brands.
Aposta Ganha recently set foot in the Mexican market via its localized brand, www.apuestagana.mx, and collaborates with IBIA to combat corruption and match-fixing.
Hugo Baungartner, Aposta Ganha's CCO, shared, "We're thrilled to partner with IBIA, a beacon for those dedicated to protecting sports and betting customer safety. Through our association, we're eager to contribute meaningfully to their ongoing mission."
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, warmly welcomed Aposta Ganha, stating, "IBIA is thrilled to onboard Aposta Ganha, fortifying our position in the LatAm region. This move signifies confidence in IBIA and our conclusive approach to shielding sports betting operators from underhanded betting practices."
IBIA, a non-profit organization free from conflicting commercial interests, was established to safeguard regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. IBIA's global monitoring network is a potent anti-corruption tool, promptly detecting and reporting suspicious betting activities in regulated markets.
The IBIA network allows for tracking transactional activities linked to individual customer accounts. With an estimated annual betting turnover of over $300bn, IBIA members represent roughly half of the global commercial, regulated land-based and online sports betting sector, and over half for online alone.
A recent IBIA report on Sports Betting Products offers a focus on the Brazilian market. H2 Gambling Capital, a leading authority on global gambling market data, estimates that IBIA members constitute a dominant 60% of the Brazilian remote gambling market, empowering IBIA to deliver accurate analysis and an effective deterrent against betting-related fraud, positioning itself optimally to spearhead a crackdown on match-fixing in Brazil and the wider LatAm region.
IBIA's Q1 2024 report detailed 56 alerts during the quarter. IBIA alerts contributed to the investigations and subsequent sanctioning of 21 clubs, players, and officials in 2023—a rise from the 15 sanctioned the previous year.
Notably, Brazilian football is grappling with match-fixing allegations against high-profile players, with bills proposing prohibitions on betting on specific football events and enforcing penalties for those involved in match-fixing to combat those illegal practices. The current scrutiny involves prominent figures such as Lucas Paquetá (West Ham) and Bruno Henrique (Flamengo), who have vehemently denied the match-fixing charges. Bruno Henrique, under investigation for sports betting fraud, was indicted by the Federal Police for deception based on leaked evidence indicating a yellow-card scheme in Flamengo vs. Santos (November 2023). The police investigation uncovered nearly 4,000 messages showcasing coordination between Bruno Henrique and associates implicated in the scheme. The entire network, including family members and friends, now faces charges. The Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD) is reviewing these investigations, signifying potential sports justice sanctions in addition to the ongoing criminal proceedings.
- Aposta Ganha, a Latin American sports betting operator, has joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), aiming to strengthen its stance against match-fixing and corruption.
- IBIA has welcomed Aposta Ganha as a member, boosting their presence and influence in the casino-and-gambling industry in Latin America.
- With this association, Aposta Ganha will integrate its data into IBIA's world-leading integrity monitoring network, a global alliance focused on sports betting.
- Hugo Baungartner, Aposta Ganha's CCO, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that the company aims to contribute significantly to IBIA's mission of protecting sports and betting customers.
- IBIA continues to be a beacon for those dedicated to safeguarding integrity in the sports betting world, as evidenced by the addition of Aposta Ganha, a key player in the casino-games market.
- IBIA's efforts to combat match-fixing extend beyond sports, encompassing casino-culture and casino-personalities, as they strive to ensure a fair and honest gaming environment for all.
