Asia
Sportradar Renews Integrity Partnership with AFC
Sportradar, the world’s leading supplier of sports integrity solutions, has renewed its long-standing integrity partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that will last through to the AFC Asian Cup China 2023. Under the agreement, Sportradar will continue to support the AFC Integrity Unit with the Intelligence and Investigation Services which have proved vital in the fight against match-fixing in the region.
The effects of this strong partnership are already clear to see, with a marked decrease in match-fixing issues in Asian football. Over the years, the partnership has developed to include multi-faceted approaches to tackle integrity issues, through a range of cutting-edge intelligence services. In terms of technical achievements, a major milestone came in 2017 with the launch of the AFC integrity mobile app, enabling fans, players and officials to report concerns directly to the AFC Integrity Unit.
As part of the new agreement, the AFC integrity mobile app will be upgraded to allow for the reporting of doping, bullying and harassment incidents too. The evolving intelligence capabilities of Sportradar will also allow the AFC to take advantage of their expertise in the areas of anti-doping, age fraud, stadium security and compliance matters in the years ahead.
“Sportradar have been a valued and trusted partner of ours since 2013, and we are very proud of what we have accomplished together to help protect the integrity of Asian football. However, we cannot stand still and become complacent, that is why our cooperation has evolved over the years to include detection, safeguarding, prevention and reporting measures. Through this, Asian football has the level of integrity protection that befits our loyal and passionate fans across the continent,” Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, President of AFC said.
“We have been proud partners of the AFC since 2013 and are delighted to be extending our integrity agreement over the next four years. Our partnership has been characterised by action and innovation in the fight against match-fixing, and strong cooperation has been central for this. From day one, the AFC have sought to make integrity their top priority, and this has led to many positive results, including a clear decline in match-fixing issues across Asia,” Carsten Koerl, CEO of Sportradar, said.
“Sportradar are committed to developing the Integrity Services and have made serious investments in the intelligence, investigation, and anti-doping services to ensure our service remains the gold standard in integrity. We look forward to continuing our close working relationship with the AFC over the coming years and playing an even bigger role in helping to uphold the integrity of Asian football,” Carsten Koerl added.
“The partnership and collaboration with Sportradar has been a real success story. They have provided excellent support in helping with key investigations and at the same time we have seen a significant reduction in the number of matches which are of concern. It demonstrates, while there is no room for complacency, that we are prepared to take on those who wish to manipulate our sport,” Benoit Pasquier, AFC General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs, said.
Thai Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has defended the Entertainment Complex Bill, set for parliamentary debate on April 9, as a vital economic measure amid rising US tariffs on Thai goods.
While opposition continues inside and outside parliament, Mr Phumtham insisted the bill’s fate should be decided through democratic processes — not protests.
The bill, which includes casino operations within an integrated entertainment complex, aims to generate significant revenue and counter the 36% US tariff hike on Thai goods — far higher than Singapore’s 10%, he said.
Mr Phumtham argued the measure would boost Thailand’s financial resilience and dismissed concerns that it promotes gambling addiction. He said strict entry rules, including age and income restrictions, would help mitigate risk.
“This isn’t about encouraging gambling — it’s about economic survival,” he said.
He urged critics to join the parliamentary debate and cited results from the government’s online public hearing held between Feb 28 and March 14, in which more than 70,000 people participated, with around 80% supporting the bill.
While acknowledging the right to protest, he warned such demonstrations should not be seen as representing the entire nation.
He said public opinion often differs from that of opposition parties and civil groups, stressing the need to respect the democratic process and let parliament decide.
The post Thai Deputy PM Defends Entertainment Complex Bill as Shield Against US Trade Move appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Asian Poker Tour has announced the cancellation of APT Manila 2025, which was scheduled to take place from May 30 to June 8, 2025, at the City of Dreams Manila.
The next scheduled APT tour stop following the upcoming APT Taipei 2025—running April 25 to May 4 with a TWD 70M (~USD 2.1M) guaranteed Main Event—will be the APT Incheon 2025; boasting a KRW 2.5M buy-in Main Event with a KRW 1.5B (~USD 1M) guarantee running August 1-10 at the Paradise Hotel & Resort.
This will be followed by the APT Jeju 2025, which boasts a KRW 2.6M buy-in Main Event with a KRW 2.2B (~USD 1.5M) prize pool guarantee and runs from September 26 to October 5 at Jeju Shinhwa World.
The 2025 APT poker schedule will conclude with the thrilling end of year APT Championship (APTC), which runs from November 14-30, 2025 at the Red Point Center’s brand new “Red Space” venue located in central Taipei.
The APTC Main Event boasts a massive TWD 165 million (~USD 5 million) prize pool guarantee – the largest the tour has ever offered.
Players can win their seat to this exciting TWD 350,000 (~USD 10,700) freezeout by competing in the tour’s three signature events—the APT Main Event, the APT High Roller and the APT Super High Roller—at each of the three remaining APT tour stops preceding the APTC.
The post Asian Poker Tour Announces Cancellation of APT Manila 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
GOD55, a premier online gaming platform and leading operator in Southeast Asia, is proud to announce its partnership with Birmingham City Football Club as the club’s Official Asian Betting Partner.
Established in 2016, GOD55 has become one of the biggest and most trusted brands in the online gaming industry, offering a wide range of betting and entertainment options, including casino games, sports betting, and live dealer experiences. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the platform provides users with seamless mobile and desktop access, real-time data integration, and high-quality streaming for live events.
As part of this exciting partnership, GOD55 has launched an exciting announcement film, filmed on location at Birmingham City’s St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and Elite Performance Innovation Centre.
A spokesperson for GOD55 commented: “We are delighted to partner with Birmingham City, a club with a rich history and a dedicated global fanbase. This collaboration reflects our commitment to connecting with football enthusiasts and delivering an enhanced entertainment experience. Together, we aim to engage fans in innovative ways, celebrating the beautiful game while offering a world-class gaming platform for our users in Asia.”
Birmingham City also expressed their excitement about the partnership: “We’re thrilled to welcome GOD55 to the Birmingham City family as our Official Asian Betting Partner. This partnership highlights the club’s growing international appeal and provides an opportunity to further engage with our supporters in Asia. We look forward to working closely with GOD55 to achieve great things together.”
The post Birmingham City Forms Alliance with GOD55 as Their Official Asian Betting Partner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News4 days agoDreamPlay consolidates its status as a global player in the iGaming industry and opens an office and campus in Cyprus
-
Amusnet6 days ago
Amusnet to Participate in the Third Edition of SiGMA Americas
-
Caesars Entertainment4 days ago
Caesars Entertainment Debuts its First Live Dealer Studio Inside One of its Caesars Rewards Destinations
-
Australia6 days ago
Vanguard Overwatch Announces New Partnership Deal with McAtamney & Advisors
-
Australia6 days ago
Changes to Tipping Off Offence Came into Effect in Australia
-
Bruce Cassidy5 days ago
VIP Play Obtains Interim West Virginia iGaming and Sports Wagering Management Service Provider Licenses
-
Blitzcrown5 days ago
Blitzcrown Secures GLI Certification for Three Crash Games in Brazil
-
BETBY6 days ago
BETBY STRENGTHENS LATAM PRESENCE THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH CALÍMACO
