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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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Boomerang Partners opens the Second Half of Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 during the summer of major sports
The First Half of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 by Boomerang Partners is over, and this annual affiliate tournament is moving into the Second Half. The winner of the opening stage will attend the Wimbledon Championships from June 29 to July 12, 2026, the main prize of the First Half. From June 10 to July 19, the Golden Boomerang Awards will run during one of the busiest periods in the sports calendar, with events such as the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Championships expected to drive audience attention throughout the stage. For the Second Half, Boomerang Partners is preparing new mechanics, the next Mystery Box draw, and the main prize of the stage – a private dinner with an AC Milan Legend.
Beyond the Moment enters the next phase
The Second Half continues the main idea behind this season’s concept, Beyond the Moment. A strong start still matters, but the tournament increasingly rewards teams that can stay active throughout the competition and react quickly to key moments in the sports calendar. With updated mechanics and a packed summer schedule ahead, even new participants still have enough time to challenge the current leaders.
The Second Half changes the pace of the tournament
The start of the Second Half changes the scoring system of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026. From June 10, each Sport FTD now brings 3 points instead of 2. This makes sports traffic even more valuable during one of the year’s busiest periods.
The stage runs alongside the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Championships, two events expected to generate sustained traffic throughout June and July. For affiliate teams, this creates more high-traffic periods across the calendar before the tournament enters its final stretch.
New mechanics keep the competition open
The Second Half brings new mechanics for teams joining the tournament or increasing activity during the stage. Participants entering the competition during the first 14 days of the stage will receive double points through the WELCOME BOOST mechanic until the bonus period ends.
Combined with the updated scoring system and major sports events during the stage, this gives both current participants and new teams more opportunities to close the gap and compete for the leading positions.
Boomerang Partners will also continue the Mystery Box series during the Second Half. After the first draw in the opening stage of the tournament, Mystery Box #2 will now go to 9 randomly selected active participants. This keeps additional rewards open to both long-term participants and teams that joined the competition more recently.
The main prize of the Second Half will be a private dinner with an AC Milan Legend in August 2026, continuing Boomerang Partners’ collaboration with the Club as an Official Regional Partner.
Kristina Shkredova, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, commented: “Closing the first stage doesn’t mean the main race is decided. The Second Half changes the tournament’s pace completely: Sport FTDs are now worth more, the sports calendar becomes even more intense, and teams still have enough space to move up quickly. We’ve already seen how competitive this season has become, but summer is where the pressure really starts. For some teams, this will be the moment to defend their position. For others, it’s the best chance to break into the fight.”
The Second Half of the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 is now underway. As the summer sports season accelerates, affiliate teams still have time to stay active in the competition, use the updated mechanics, and improve their standing before the tournament reaches its decisive stage. Current standings, tournament updates, and registration details for both existing and new participants are available on the official Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 website. It’s TIME TO WIN THE TITLE.
About Boomerang
Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.
The Agency’s clients’ portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across multiple markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.
FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon Championships are made for descriptive purposes only. Boomerang Partners is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to these entities in any way.
Alberta
Altenar Received Approval to Enter Alberta’s iGaming Market
10 June 2026
Altenar has received approval from the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC), allowing the company to provide sportsbook solutions in Alberta.
The approval positions Altenar to support licensed operators and the launch of Alberta’s regulated online gaming market, expected on July, 13 2026. The province is set to become Canada’s second regulated iGaming jurisdiction after Ontario, creating significant opportunities for operators, suppliers and players alike.
As a leading sportsbook provider, Altenar plans to bring its award-winning technology, flexible platform capabilities and extensive regulatory expertise to operators entering the market.
The approval strengthens Altenar’s position in North America as the company continues to expand its regulated market footprint. Alberta is expected to play a key role in the next phase of Canadian iGaming growth, with operators focused on attracting players from unregulated channels through trusted, high-quality betting experiences.
Altenar aims to support partners with the technology, flexibility and scalability required to compete effectively in the new market while driving long-term player acquisition, engagement and retention.
Matthew Ferrara, Sales Manager at Altenar, said:
“Alberta represents one of the most exciting regulatory developments in North America, and we are delighted to be preparing for launch.
For Altenar, the priority is enabling operator partners to establish a strong, competitive foothold in a newly regulated environment. A key objective will be supporting the transition of players from grey-market platforms to regulated offerings. That requires not only a compelling product but also trust, ensuring reliability, competitive pricing, and a consistently high-quality user experience. If suppliers can help operators deliver that, they’ll play a central role in shaping long-term market dynamics.
In practical terms, success will be measured by how effectively we empower partners with a market-leading sportsbook that drives acquisition, engagement, and retention”
The conditional licence approval reflects Altenar’s ongoing commitment to meeting the highest regulatory and compliance standards while supporting operators in newly regulated markets.
About Altenar
Founded in 2011, Altenar is a leading turnkey sportsbook provider committed to meeting the unique needs of its clients. Renowned for its flexibility and customer-centric approach, Altenar specialises in customising solutions to new markets, audiences and requirements. With a focus on building enduring partnerships, Altenar aims to be the most partner-oriented iGaming software provider in the industry.
The post Altenar Received Approval to Enter Alberta’s iGaming Market appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
game features
Tom Horn Gaming launches Sweet Gold 3000 slot with 3,000x multipliers
Tom Horn Gaming has unveiled Sweet Gold 3000, a new online slot due for general release on 16 June. The company positions the game as a high-volatility title with multipliers up to 3,000x and maximum exposure of 13,900x.
Sweet Gold 3000 runs a 6×5 scatter-pays setup and introduces Tom Horn Gaming’s BlastX
feature alongside its cascade-style Shatter Wins mechanic, where consecutive wins continue through chain reactions. Random Gold Chocolate multiplier symbols can appear during spins with values from 2x to 3,000x, the company said.
The free spins feature is triggered by landing four or more scatter symbols and uses increasing multipliers. During the bonus round, players can unlock an additional five free spins by landing three extra scatters. A Free Spins Booster is also available for 1.5x the total bet, which Tom Horn Gaming says triples the chance of triggering free spins in the base game.
For players seeking direct access to bonus gameplay, the game includes Bonus Buy entry into Free Spins or Super Free Spins modes.
Ondrej Lapides, CEO at Tom Horn Gaming, said: “Sweet Gold 3000 is unlike anything else in our portfolio. We wanted to create a game that feels rebellious, energetic and visually striking while still delivering the high-intensity gameplay players are looking for today. The combination of urban graffiti culture, candy symbolism and huge multiplier potential gives the game a very distinctive personality that stands out instantly in casino lobbies.”
The post Tom Horn Gaming launches Sweet Gold 3000 slot with 3,000x multipliers appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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