The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) Integrity Report for the second quarter details 50 incidents of suspicious betting activity reported to the relevant authorities.
The Q2 2023 total represents a 4% increase from the Q2 2023 revision, which recorded 48 alerts, and a 44% decrease from the 90 alerts reported in Q2 2022.
This betting integrity information has been identified across IBIA member global companies, which boast over 125 sports betting brands and a betting volume of USD 137 billion per year, making IBIA the largest integrity monitor of its kind in the world.
The 50 Q2 suspect betting incidents involved eight sports, across 18 countries and four continents. Other important data for the period include:
- Football had the highest number of alerts, with 19 cases, representing a 27% increase from the 15 alerts reported in Q1, but a 41% decrease from the 32 alerts reported in Q2 2022.
- The 12 tennis alerts reported in Q2 2023 represent a decrease of nearly 60% compared to the revised number of 29 alerts in the same period of 2022.
- The UK was the country with the most alerts in Q2, with nine alerts involving four sports (five for darts, two for football and one for bocce and boxing).
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “The second quarter of the year showed a positive trend, with 44% fewer suspicious alerts compared to the same period in 2022, and a decrease of almost 30% in the first half of 2023 compared to 2022”.
“Much of this decrease is the result of collaborative efforts across sectors led by the International Tennis Integrity Agency to eradicate match-fixing in tennis, the success of which was highlighted by the recent ruling issued by a Belgian court.”
“This decision sends a clear and unequivocal message to the corruptors that they will be caught and face tough sanctions,” added Ali.
The Belgian court handed down sentences to 28 individuals convicted of match-fixing in tennis, including the leader of a gang that instigated and coordinated the match-fixing with the aim of defrauding betting operators, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison and a fine of €8 thousand.
Ali continued: “The result is very welcome and the IBIA congratulates the ITIA on its collaborative partnership with key stakeholders and its continued determination to identify and punish illegal activities.”
“Accountable and regulated betting operators under the IBIA remain committed to working closely with sports to root out corruption.”
IBIA report includes important analysis for the sport
The Q2 Health Report includes an analysis of alerts reported at sporting events that took place in Europe between 2018 and 2022.
It also focuses on the Netherlands, which had eight suspicious alerts during this period (three for football and tennis, and one for darts and beach volleyball).
According to the leading global gaming market intelligence company, H2 Gambling Capital, the online sports betting market in the Netherlands is expected to increase from €276 million in gross gaming revenues (GGR) in 2022 to €690 million by 2028, although a sizable portion (€124 million) will remain in offshore channels.
Of the 50 alerts reported in the cited period of 2023, two were related to female events, 47 to male events and one to a mixed-gender event.
