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Lack of governance of football friendly (non-competitive) matches exploited by match-fixers

Published

5 years ago

December 1, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Football friendly matches are wide open for match-fixing due to a lack of regulation according to new research, with more than 250 friendlies involving European clubs showing signs of suspicious activity during 2016-20. The results come from a three-year study funded by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme and led by the University of Nicosia Research Foundation.

A survey of 700 players in Cyprus, Greece and Malta conducted by the project also found that:

More than a quarter of players (26.5%) had played in a club friendly they suspected had been manipulated.
More than a quarter (26.3%) of approaches to fix a friendly match were made by club officials and 15% by other players.
Club officials were the instigators in 19% of approaches to manipulate friendlies and were the main beneficiaries in 26.3% of approaches.

The research study found that international and national football federations have been slow to establish where responsibility lies for friendlies, particularly when clubs from different countries are involved in non-competitive matches played in a third country. Some European football federations do not track where clubs go on pre-season and mid-winter tours.

This lack of sporting governance and regulation, combined with the availability of these games on betting markets around the world, notably with poorly or unregulated betting operators in jurisdictions such as Curaçao and the Philippines, who may themselves have links to criminality, leaves these games at greater risk of potential exploitation by match-fixers.

To address this, the report, Combating Match Fixing in Club Football Non-Competitive Friendlies, proposes:

That UEFA enforces regulation of friendlies on all 55 member associations
That match agents are barred from owning or controlling clubs, just as players agents are
The formation of a body to represent match agents in future negotiations with international bodies such as FIFA and UEFA on regulation
Establishing data standards that prevent the sale of live match data to poorly and unregulated betting operators

Unlike competitive matches, which are usually covered by agreements between data companies and competition organisers, friendlies are a free-for-all.

Data from these games is being collected and sold to poorly and unregulated betting operators, which do not report signs of suspicious activity, which is often a licensing requirement for well-regulated operators. This sporting event data collation and sale for betting does not currently fall within the scope of regulation, leaving a potential ‘blind spot’ in terms of market and consumer protection.

Lead investigator, Professor Nicos Kartakoullis, President of the Council, University of Nicosia, comments:

“The combination of a lack of regulation, oversight and information makes these matches easier to manipulate than competitive matches.

“This research shows that in terms of governance, friendly matches need to be considered just like competitive matches.

“With the data for 4,000 friendly matches being offered for betting purposes around the world each year, it is also vital that the betting companies receiving that data are operating from well-regulated jurisdictions and report suspicious betting to protect the integrity of those events.”

The research was led by the University of Nicosia Research Foundation and included the International Betting Integrity Association, EU Athletes, CIES and the football players unions of Cyprus, Greece and Malta as project partners.

Asia

EGT Brings High-Impact Asian-Themed Portfolio to SiGMA Asia 2026

Published

46 minutes ago

June 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

egt-brings-high-impact-asian-themed-portfolio-to-sigma-asia-2026

EGT is thrilled to announce that it will take part in SiGMA Asia 2026. The company will show its slot and ETG developments, created specifically for the Asian markets, which will be at the visitors’ disposal at booth 2318 on June 2nd and 3rd.

The main focus in EGT’s product selection will be the hit Asian-themed jackpots Zhao Cai Shuang Yu, Sheng Sheng Bu Xi and Cai Fu Tian Jiang. Standing out with eye-catching outlook, numerous attractive bonus features and highly engaging gameplay, they have already proved to be a preferred choice in many gaming venues around the world and will certainly attract the attention of local operators and players. The three jackpots will be presented in one of the most popular slot cabinet models from the General series – G 50 J2 Up.

The brand-new ETG multigame series Supreme, which recently made its official debut, will also be on display. Guests at the EGT booth will be able to try out two of the mixes included in it – Supreme Green Union and Supreme Wang Union. Featuring a vast library of top slot titles, roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Keno, these multigames provide the perfect combination of innovation, high-end design, and great entertainment.

The ETG terminals S 32 T and the compact Standalone Automatic Roulette center G RSA will complement EGT’s display for the show, demonstrating their enormous flexibility and vast diversity of gaming options.

EGT Digital will also showcase its extensive portfolio of iGaming solutions, including wide array of in-house developed casino games and jackpots, as well as the modular platform X-Nave, which integrates Casino, CRM, Sportsbook, Payment Gateway, Bonus Hub, and an Aggregator with 20,000+ titles from 200+ providers.

“I am very glad that we will participate in this year’s SiGMA Asia,” shared Mariana Manchina, Director of EGT Philippines Corp. “For several years now, this exhibition has become one of the most important events in our calendar, with each year’s performance surpassing the results from the previous edition. I am confident that the 2026 show will continue this trend, bringing us many new contacts and expanded current partnerships, and once again solidifying our positions in the region. We also look forward to the SiGMA Asia Awards, where EGT is a finalist in the Best Land-Based Game Feature category.”

The post EGT Brings High-Impact Asian-Themed Portfolio to SiGMA Asia 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Argentina

Stake continues Latin American expansion with Argentina launch

Published

46 minutes ago

June 2, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

stake-continues-latin-american-expansion-with-argentina-launch

Stake officially launches in Argentina via stake.bet.ar, marking its latest expansion across Latin America
Specifically, entry into the Buenos Aires Province strengthens Stake’s presence in one of the region’s largest and most engaged markets
Expansion follows recent entry into Mexico for world’s largest online casino and sportsbook

Stake, the world’s largest online casino and sportsbook, announced its official launch in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province, continuing the company’s rapid expansion across Latin America.

The move sees Stake bring its globally recognised sportsbook and casino platform to Argentina’s largest and most populous province, home to more than 17 million people and one of the country’s most significant economic and sporting regions.

Operating via stake.bet.ar, under a licence granted by the Provincial Institute of Lottery and Casinos (IPLyC), Stake will offer Argentinian players access to its premium sportsbook and casino experience, combining cutting-edge technology, a mobile-first platform and a wide-ranging portfolio of gaming content tailored to local preferences.

The launch further strengthens Stake’s momentum across Latin America following recent growth in markets including Mexico, Peru, Brazil and Colombia. Argentina’s deep sporting culture and strong digital adoption make it a strategically important addition to the company’s expanding regional footprint.

The market entry also builds on Stake’s growing connection with fans through its ambassador partnership with former Argentina striker Sergio Aguero.

Diana Otalora, LatAm General Manager at Stake, said: “Argentina is an important market for us and a natural next step in our expansion across Latin America. There is an incredibly passionate sporting culture, a large and digitally engaged population and strong long-term potential for Stake.

“We’ve continued to build momentum across Latin America in recent years, and this launch reflects our ambition to establish Stake as the leading entertainment brand in the region. Argentina is a market with energy and identity and we’re excited to bring our world-class sportsbook and casino experience to players through stake.bet.ar.”

Since launching in 2017, Stake has become the world’s leading online casino and sportsbook, attracting more than 100 million monthly visits across its global domains. Built on innovation, world-class partnerships and a strong connection with its global community, Stake continues to redefine entertainment at scale.

The post Stake continues Latin American expansion with Argentina launch appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

iGaming Express

David Natroshvili Recognized as iGaming’s Leading Global Influencer

Published

2 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

david-natroshvili-recognized-as-igaming’s-leading-global-influencer

The annual ranking places the SPRIBE founder ahead of figures including Peter Jackson, Denise Coates and Ed Craven.

International industry publication iGaming Express has named SPRIBE Founder and CEO David Natroshvili the most influential person in the global iGaming industry in its annual ranking.

iGaming Express said Natroshvili “pioneered an entirely new category of crash games” and helped turn SPRIBE’s Aviator into a global hit. The publication added that SPRIBE’s growth and product approach have influenced player expectations and operator views on modern iGaming.

The ranking places Natroshvili ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump, Flutter Entertainment CEO Peter Jackson, Bet365 Co-CEO Denise Coates, and Stake Co-Founder Ed Craven.

“This recognition belongs to the entire SPRIBE team. Over the past few years, our goal has not simply been to build a successful product, but to create an experience capable of driving the industry in a new direction. I am delighted to see these efforts receive such high international recognition,” said David Natroshvili.

iGaming Express said Natroshvili’s influence extends beyond SPRIBE, pointing to innovation as a driver for creating new markets in iGaming.

The post David Natroshvili Recognized as iGaming’s Leading Global Influencer appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.