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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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PG Soft has been named as a sponsor of SiGMA Asia 2026, set to take place at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.
According to the company, the sponsorship package includes branding in the venue lobby and a 60-second branded video broadcast inside the exhibition hall across 14 hanging HD screens during the two-day expo.
PG Soft said the commercial partnership is part of its focus on engaging with Asian markets and supporting SiGMA’s networking aims for the global iGaming community.
A PG Soft spokesperson said: “SiGMA Asia is a must-attend event on the iGaming calendar, and Manila is one of the most exciting markets in the region. We’re very pleased to be supporting this summit and look forward to presenting our brand to the influential audience that SiGMA Asia continues to attract.”
The post PG Soft signs on as sponsor for SiGMA Asia 2026 in Manila appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
PropellerAds has launched Interactive Ads, a new ad format the company says is designed to improve click quality and increase conversion rates by adding a brief interaction before users reach an advertiser’s landing page.
Interactive Ads require users to complete a lightweight action—such as swiping, selecting, taking a mini quiz, or clicking a confirmation—before continuing. PropellerAds positions this “engagement step” as a filter for high-intent users, with the aim of reducing accidental clicks and low-interest traffic that can dilute campaign performance.
The company said the format is designed to be activated within existing campaign workflows and does not require additional creative assets or technical development. PropellerAds also said its platform automatically selects the interaction type based on advertiser goals and user characteristics.
PropellerAds suggested the format can be used alongside other ad approaches in a broader funnel—for example, using Social Commerce to generate initial traffic and Interactive Ads to qualify users before conversion.
Separately, PropellerAds said it was featured in G2’s Summer Report, which the software marketplace compiles using verified customer reviews, market presence, and user feedback.
The post PropellerAds rolls out Interactive Ads format aimed at higher-intent clicks appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by Eastern European Gaming
Booming Games has released its latest slot “Diamond Forge: Link & Loot”. Boasting a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines, the game offers players a maximum win potential of 10,000x. Set on a classic, diamond background, two explosive bonus features provide the ultimate experience for those seeking entertaining gameplay.
GAMOMAT has expanded its portfolio with the launch of Multi Machine, a classic fruit game crafted to connect with German players. Multi Machine is a 4-reel, 81 Ways to win fruit title that places the Wild at the centre, focusing on clean, stripped-back reel action.
DEGEN Studios has released Tomb of Wishes, a 5×5 cluster pays slot built around cascading wins, Random Wilds and a three-stage bonus sequence themed around a genie. In the base game, winning clusters remove symbols from the grid and feed a central counter. As more symbols are cleared, Random Wilds can land to help complete clusters and extend cascades.
PopOK Gaming has launched a new slot game, Fortune Tarta, with the title released on May 15, 2026. The supplier said the Asian-themed game is available for integration and is built around a 3×3 layout with five paylines.
Greentube continues to build on one of its most popular game franchises with the launch of Cash Connection Charming Lady’s Boom Coins, the latest charming addition to the Cash Connection series. Bringing together two fan-favourites, the 5×3 title combines the widely enjoyed Cash Connection mechanics with the unmistakable elegance of Charming Lady’s Boom.
Evoplay has launched Juicy Fruit Coins Hold and Win, its latest slot release built around a classic fruit-machine theme and a modern Hold and Win mechanic. The five-reel title uses traditional fruit symbols and wilds, with Scatter symbols triggering Free Spins.
Relax Gaming has released Purrrminator Dream Drop, the latest title in its Dream Drop jackpot series. The supplier said the Dream Drop series has now produced 30 MEGA Jackpot millionaires, with four payouts triggered this year in a record time frame.
BetGames has launched Chili Cash, a new high-volatility slot that debuts the supplier’s Hold & Win Plus feature. The game includes 243 ways to win, four jackpots and a stated maximum payout of 10,000x. Chili Cash is built on a 5×3 reel layout. BetGames said Hold & Win Plus allows players to lock in cash and jackpot prizes.
Pragmatic Play has expanded its fan-favourite canine slot franchise with the release of “The Big Dog House”. The main highlight of this new slot is the introduction of colossal wilds that help players target a massive 15,000x win potential.
Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a prominent B2B provider of gaming content, systems, and solutions, has announced the launch of three new titles—The Great Eggscape
, Aphrodite Legends of Olympus, and Gold Fever Mine All Mine—across the UK and Malta iGaming markets.
The post Weekend Reels | Week 21: Slot Drops & Trends appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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