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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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Conferences
Groove confirms iGB L!VE 2026 attendance in London
Aggregator and platform provider says it will bring a full commercial delegation to ExCeL on 1-2 July.
Groove has confirmed it will attend iGB L!VE 2026, running 1-2 July at ExCeL London. The company said it will bring a full commercial delegation to meet operators and affiliates.
The supplier positions the event as a key mid-year deal-making moment. Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and CEO of Groove, said: “iGB L!VE is the industry’s mid-year performance review. It is where conversations become commercial realities. We are bringing our most advanced platform yet, designed to help operators launch fast, adapt locally, and scale across complex regulatory environments.”
Meltzer also pointed to seasonality and content breadth, adding: “The timing is critical. With the European football season revenue peak approaching, operators need a partner who delivers structural resilience and content that performs. Groove delivers exactly that. Our 20,000+ games from 150+ providers, unified through a single API, give partners the agility they need to capture momentum and convert it into measurable growth.”
Rachel Tourgeman, Head of Partnerships at Groove, said: “iGB L!VE is where the industry’s most ambitious decision-makers converge. We are not here to hand out brochures. We are here to have conversations that turn into performance.” She added: “Every meaningful partnership starts with a conversation, and this event is where those conversations happen at scale. Whether it is emerging affiliates seeking new opportunities, established operators evaluating MarTech solutions, or startups seeking investor visibility through the iGB Startup Accelerator, Groove is positioned to deliver exactly what they need: speed, stability, and commercial precision.”
Giusy Campo, Business Development Director at Groove, who will lead the company’s presence on the show floor, said: “We are arriving with a clear objective: to forge strategic partnerships that unlock new markets and drive sustainable growth. Our platform’s modular architecture, combined with advanced player engagement tools and real-time analytics, gives operators a genuine competitive edge.”
The post Groove confirms iGB L!VE 2026 attendance in London appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Boomerang Partners
Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience
The third season of the Golden Boomerang Awards by Boomerang Partners is not losing momentum. Following the conclusion of the First Half, the tournament has confirmed one of the main ideas behind this season: long-term mechanics can increase partner engagement, while a sports-focused strategy can help turn that activity into measurable results.
First Half leaderboard and highlights
The Kickoff stage concluded on June 9, with impressive participant engagement. Mystery Boxes were raffled off among all participants, featuring exclusive prizes such as limited-edition FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys – three per box, each representing a different participating country. The winner of this opening stage – team AskBonus – will attend the Wimbledon Championships from June 29 to July 12, 2026. For Boomerang Partners, sport remains one of the key areas of expertise, which is why it runs through the tournament mechanics, partner activities, and even the prize pool.
The rules are the same across all stages: the top 10 teams qualify for a random draw for the main stage prize, while Mystery Boxes are available to all active participants – not only the leaders. This keeps the competition open for everyone.
Tracking the leaders: The GBA 2026 standings update
Currently, a clear leader has emerged in the tournament. Team Lily has already scored 6,029 points (of which nearly 5,200 points come from sports FTDs). Team O follows in second place with 2,677 points. The rest of the top five – third, fourth, and fifth – currently hold 750, 504, and 341 points respectively. At the same time, the leaderboard is changing dynamically, driven by high participant activity.
The sports vertical accounts for nearly half of all FTD activity
According to Boomerang Partners, about half of the FTDs brought by Golden Boomerang Awards participants to the partner brands in the company’s portfolio come from the sports segment. This confirms a strong audience interest in sports events, especially given the active stage of the FIFA World Cup in North America.
The organizers have noted on multiple occasions that the third season of GBA prioritizes long-term strategy over participants’ short-term successes. This point is backed up by data on activities in the online casino segment. So, about a third of participating teams actively use the LUCKY FIVE mechanic. It allows affiliate teams to earn 5 bonus points per week if they generate 10 or more Casino FTDs during the reporting week.
The second half has introduced upgraded mechanics
The Second Half kicked off on June 10 – the winner of this stage will visit the Formula 1 Grand Prix on September 6. The stage runs through July 19. Thus, even for those joining the race now, there is every chance of catching up with the leaders and seriously competing for the prize.
To help teams with this, Boomerang Partners introduced a key feature for the Second Half aimed at new participants – WELCOME BOOST. Every new affiliate team will receive double points for every FTD throughout the first 14 days from the moment of joining. The LUCKY FIVE and LAST MINUTES WINNER mechanics also continue to be active, with the latter allowing participants to earn three times the points for every FTD during the last 7 days of the stage. In addition, the value of sports FTDs has increased – compared to the first stage, teams can now earn 3 points instead of 2 for each such FTD. This will be particularly beneficial for sports-focused affiliates, especially given that the stage runs alongside the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon, both of which are driving high demand from audiences.
Race remains open at any stage of the season
As soon as the Second Half concludes, the Overtime stage will begin, featuring its own prizes, bonus mechanics, and enhanced point scoring. This keeps the tournament challenges completely open, giving every active participant a real opportunity to reach the top ranks. The awards ceremony in 11 categories will take place in September in Lisbon as part of the SBC Summit, allowing winners to gain not just physical prizes, but a sense of belonging among the best in the affiliate marketing industry – a feeling that fully aligns with the concept of the third season, Beyond the Moment. More details are available on the official Golden Boomerang Awards website.
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.
Disclaimer:
The 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.
The post Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Boomerang Partners
Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience
The third season of the Golden Boomerang Awards by Boomerang Partners is not losing momentum. Following the conclusion of the First Half, the tournament has confirmed one of the main ideas behind this season: long-term mechanics can increase partner engagement, while a sports-focused strategy can help turn that activity into measurable results.
First Half leaderboard and highlights
The Kickoff stage concluded on June 9, with impressive participant engagement. Mystery Boxes were raffled off among all participants, featuring exclusive prizes such as limited-edition FIFA World Cup 2026 jerseys – three per box, each representing a different participating country. The winner of this opening stage – team AskBonus – will attend the Wimbledon Championships from June 29 to July 12, 2026. For Boomerang Partners, sport remains one of the key areas of expertise, which is why it runs through the tournament mechanics, partner activities, and even the prize pool.
The rules are the same across all stages: the top 10 teams qualify for a random draw for the main stage prize, while Mystery Boxes are available to all active participants – not only the leaders. This keeps the competition open for everyone.
Tracking the leaders: The GBA 2026 standings update
Currently, a clear leader has emerged in the tournament. Team Lily has already scored 6,029 points (of which nearly 5,200 points come from sports FTDs). Team O follows in second place with 2,677 points. The rest of the top five – third, fourth, and fifth – currently hold 750, 504, and 341 points respectively. At the same time, the leaderboard is changing dynamically, driven by high participant activity.
The sports vertical accounts for nearly half of all FTD activity
According to Boomerang Partners, about half of the FTDs brought by Golden Boomerang Awards participants to the partner brands in the company’s portfolio come from the sports segment. This confirms a strong audience interest in sports events, especially given the active stage of the FIFA World Cup in North America.
The organizers have noted on multiple occasions that the third season of GBA prioritizes long-term strategy over participants’ short-term successes. This point is backed up by data on activities in the online casino segment. So, about a third of participating teams actively use the LUCKY FIVE mechanic. It allows affiliate teams to earn 5 bonus points per week if they generate 10 or more Casino FTDs during the reporting week.
The second half has introduced upgraded mechanics
The Second Half kicked off on June 10 – the winner of this stage will visit the Formula 1 Grand Prix on September 6. The stage runs through July 19. Thus, even for those joining the race now, there is every chance of catching up with the leaders and seriously competing for the prize.
To help teams with this, Boomerang Partners introduced a key feature for the Second Half aimed at new participants – WELCOME BOOST. Every new affiliate team will receive double points for every FTD throughout the first 14 days from the moment of joining. The LUCKY FIVE and LAST MINUTES WINNER mechanics also continue to be active, with the latter allowing participants to earn three times the points for every FTD during the last 7 days of the stage. In addition, the value of sports FTDs has increased – compared to the first stage, teams can now earn 3 points instead of 2 for each such FTD. This will be particularly beneficial for sports-focused affiliates, especially given that the stage runs alongside the FIFA World Cup and Wimbledon, both of which are driving high demand from audiences.
Race remains open at any stage of the season
As soon as the Second Half concludes, the Overtime stage will begin, featuring its own prizes, bonus mechanics, and enhanced point scoring. This keeps the tournament challenges completely open, giving every active participant a real opportunity to reach the top ranks. The awards ceremony in 11 categories will take place in September in Lisbon as part of the SBC Summit, allowing winners to gain not just physical prizes, but a sense of belonging among the best in the affiliate marketing industry – a feeling that fully aligns with the concept of the third season, Beyond the Moment. More details are available on the official Golden Boomerang Awards website.
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.
Disclaimer:
The 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.
The post Golden Boomerang Awards First Half by Boomerang Partners wrapped: next prize – the Formula 1 Grand Prix experience appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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