The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) on the Manipulation of Games and Sports Betting, which takes place in the Federal Senate, received a report from Sportradar. The document deals with suspected manipulation of results that generated at least R$9.2 million in bets between 2022 and 2023.
But, so far, no one suspects bookmakers participating in schemes. On the contrary, they were the most affected, absorbing millions of reais in losses.
Sportradar report on match fixing
Sportradar revealed that bettors distributed R$9.2 million in 52 games. Each match generated, on average, R$176,000.
However, the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) stated that it is “impossible” to define an average value of bets per match. While the Ministry of Finance indicated that only in 2025 will it be able to gather concrete data on sports betting in Brazil.
Sportradar highlighted championship matches:
- Brazilians from series B, C and D
- Copa Verde
- Professional state championships
- Under-20 state championships
Examples of matches that are under suspicion:
- Last round of series B of 2022, between Operário Ferroviário (PR) and Grêmio Novorizontino (SP) – generated R$ 1.37 million in bets, the majority on Grêmio Novorizontino’s victory. The report pointed out an atypical volume of bets and significant changes in the Operário Ferroviário lineup.
- In the Grêmio Novorizontino (SP) match, the team’s second goal was scored from a penalty, in first-half stoppage time.
- Sapucaiense x Igrejinha, in Series B of the Campeonato Gaúcho – generated R$ 1 million in bets against Sapucaiense. The final score was 1-2, but there were records of suspicious bets on a 0-5 defeat.
- In the 2022 Amapaense Championship, the match between Ypiranga x São Paulo – generated only R$ 6,800, but was considered manipulated as it indicated 88% of bets on the victory of São Paulo, which, at that time, was in last place.
Operation Fair Play
Bookmakers had to absorb million-dollar losses because of suspicions of match-fixing. In nine games alone the loss was R$4.85 million. Of these games:
- 4 were from Series C
- 3 were from Series B
- 1 was from the Carioca Under-20 Championship
- 1 was from the Pernambuco Championship of Series A2
In the game between Operário Ferroviário and Grêmio Novorizontino alone, the loss for the bookmakers was R$1.67 million.
But, recently, the Federal Police carried out Operation Jogo Limpo to investigate the manipulation of results in a match in Series D of the Brazilian Championship.
The match investigated was between Inter de Limeira and Patrocinense after the PF received a report from the CBF made by Sportradar. Furthermore, the president of Patrocinense, Roberto Avatar, will be heard at the CPI das Apostas no Senado this Wednesday (10).