Latest News
Lack of governance of football friendly (non-competitive) matches exploited by match-fixers
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.
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David Murray Head of Risk and Trading at AK Bets
AK Bets trading chief says VAR forces more in-play market suspensions
David Murray tells OLBG video reviews have cut live betting uptime and increased split-second risk decisions for traders.
VAR is reshaping how football is traded in-play, according to David Murray, Head of Risk & Trading at AK Bets, who says video reviews have increased uncertainty and reduced the time live betting markets can stay open.
Speaking to OLBG, Murray said traders now have to suspend markets more often because potential penalties, red cards and offsides can quickly swing outcomes. “Years ago you would only suspend betting for a handful of major incidents,” he said. “Now there are so many situations where something might happen that you’re constantly making judgement calls.”
Murray added that VAR has changed the experience of watching matches for both fans and trading teams. “It’s completely ruined the enjoyment of watching football,” he said. “We’re exactly the same as everybody else. Whether you’ve had a bet yourself or you’re trading the game, you’re afraid to celebrate a goal because you’re immediately wondering whether there’s going to be a VAR check.”
He said the operational impact is stark compared with a decade ago. “If you compare now with 10 years ago, it’s night and day,” Murray said. “The amount of time even the biggest football matches are actually available to bet on has changed because there are simply far more incidents that require markets to be suspended.”
Murray also pointed to scheduled stoppages at this summer’s World Cup, saying hydration breaks can create additional betting moments rather than interrupting activity. “It almost becomes like a mini half-time,” he said. “Customers have a few minutes to think about what they’ve watched, look at the updated prices and decide whether they want to get involved.”
The post AK Bets trading chief says VAR forces more in-play market suspensions appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
N1 Sport Promo: Earn More with Sports Traffic
With less than two weeks remaining until N1 Sport Promo by N1 Partners comes to an end, the biggest sporting events of July are still ahead: the decisive matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Wimbledon Final, the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, and the closing stages of the Tour de France.
During this period, every additional FTD not only increases your overall payout but also boosts your CPA rate.
- SEO & PPC — +€50 CPA for every 10 FTDs, with no cap on CPA increases.
- Facebook, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email & SMS — +€10 CPA for every 30 FTDs, up to +€100 above your base CPA.
The full promotion terms are available via the link below.
The N1 Partners affiliate team has shared practical recommendations to help affiliates make the most of the final stage of the promotion.
Strengthen Campaigns That Already Deliver Results
The final weeks of N1 Sport Promo are the best time to increase the volume of successful campaigns and take full advantage of the promotion’s progressive CPA mechanics.
Focus on traffic sources and creatives that are already delivering consistent results. Their growth can be supported by expanding into additional GEOs, regularly refreshing creatives, keeping offers up to date, and reacting quickly to major sporting events.
Even a moderate increase in high-quality traffic can significantly improve your final payout: the more FTDs you generate before the promotion ends, the higher your CPA rate becomes.
Speed Is a Competitive Advantage
The strongest results typically come from campaigns launched ahead of key matches and kept relevant throughout the tournament. Preparing campaigns before kickoff and responding quickly to shifts in audience interest helps affiliates capitalize on peaks in sports traffic and generate more high-quality FTDs.
Mobile users deserve particular attention during this period, as a significant share of the audience engages with sports content while matches are taking place.
Player Activity Peaks in the Final Hours Before Kickoff
During major sporting events, many users register just a few hours before a match begins. That’s why timely creative updates and a strong focus on the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures are essential for maintaining campaign performance.
Key Sporting Events Before the Promo Ends
The sports calendar remains packed over the coming weeks:
- July 9 — France vs Morocco (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 10 — Spain vs Belgium (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 11 — Norway vs England (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 14–15 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-finals;
- July 19 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Final;
- July 12 — Wimbledon Final;
- July 19 — Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix;
- Through July 26 — Closing stages of the Tour de France.
Each of these events traditionally drives spikes in search demand, social media engagement, and player interest. As a rule, the best-performing campaigns are those that are already delivering results. The final weeks of the promotion are the ideal time to strengthen them through continuous, data-driven optimization.
Looking for even more scaling opportunities? The N1 Partners team has also prepared a comprehensive July guide featuring the month’s biggest sporting events and practical recommendations to help affiliates plan campaigns more effectively and drive additional Tier-1 traffic.
If you haven’t joined N1 Sport Promo yet, contact your affiliate manager or reach out to LeadGen Chris and make the most of the final weeks of the promotion.
Why choose N1 Partners?
- 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners
Be number one with N1!
The post N1 Sport Promo: Earn More with Sports Traffic appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Latest News
N1 Sport Promo: Earn More with Sports Traffic
With less than two weeks remaining until N1 Sport Promo by N1 Partners comes to an end, the biggest sporting events of July are still ahead: the decisive matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Wimbledon Final, the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix, and the closing stages of the Tour de France.
During this period, every additional FTD not only increases your overall payout but also boosts your CPA rate.
- SEO & PPC — +€50 CPA for every 10 FTDs, with no cap on CPA increases.
- Facebook, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email & SMS — +€10 CPA for every 30 FTDs, up to +€100 above your base CPA.
The full promotion terms are available via the link below.
The N1 Partners affiliate team has shared practical recommendations to help affiliates make the most of the final stage of the promotion.
Strengthen Campaigns That Already Deliver Results
The final weeks of N1 Sport Promo are the best time to increase the volume of successful campaigns and take full advantage of the promotion’s progressive CPA mechanics.
Focus on traffic sources and creatives that are already delivering consistent results. Their growth can be supported by expanding into additional GEOs, regularly refreshing creatives, keeping offers up to date, and reacting quickly to major sporting events.
Even a moderate increase in high-quality traffic can significantly improve your final payout: the more FTDs you generate before the promotion ends, the higher your CPA rate becomes.
Speed Is a Competitive Advantage
The strongest results typically come from campaigns launched ahead of key matches and kept relevant throughout the tournament. Preparing campaigns before kickoff and responding quickly to shifts in audience interest helps affiliates capitalize on peaks in sports traffic and generate more high-quality FTDs.
Mobile users deserve particular attention during this period, as a significant share of the audience engages with sports content while matches are taking place.
Player Activity Peaks in the Final Hours Before Kickoff
During major sporting events, many users register just a few hours before a match begins. That’s why timely creative updates and a strong focus on the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures are essential for maintaining campaign performance.
Key Sporting Events Before the Promo Ends
The sports calendar remains packed over the coming weeks:
- July 9 — France vs Morocco (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 10 — Spain vs Belgium (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 11 — Norway vs England (FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-final);
- July 14–15 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-finals;
- July 19 — FIFA World Cup 2026 Final;
- July 12 — Wimbledon Final;
- July 19 — Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix;
- Through July 26 — Closing stages of the Tour de France.
Each of these events traditionally drives spikes in search demand, social media engagement, and player interest. As a rule, the best-performing campaigns are those that are already delivering results. The final weeks of the promotion are the ideal time to strengthen them through continuous, data-driven optimization.
Looking for even more scaling opportunities? The N1 Partners team has also prepared a comprehensive July guide featuring the month’s biggest sporting events and practical recommendations to help affiliates plan campaigns more effectively and drive additional Tier-1 traffic.
If you haven’t joined N1 Sport Promo yet, contact your affiliate manager or reach out to LeadGen Chris and make the most of the final weeks of the promotion.
Why choose N1 Partners?
- 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep
- 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
- CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners
Be number one with N1!
The post N1 Sport Promo: Earn More with Sports Traffic appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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