Connect with us

Latest News

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

Published

on

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.

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Brazil

Evoplay adds F12.bet.br deal to grow in Brazil

Published

on

evoplay-adds-f12bet.br-deal-to-grow-in-brazil

Evoplay has signed a content partnership with Brazilian operator F12.bet.br, expanding the supplier’s footprint in Brazil’s regulated online gambling market.

Under the deal, F12.bet.br will roll out a selection of Evoplay titles on its online casino, including Penalty Shoot Out: Cup Mania and Hot Triple Sevens.

Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales, said: “Brazil is one of the most exciting markets in global iGaming right now. The pace and scale of its growth, mixed with the passion for sports and gaming amongst its players, makes it a unique opportunity for us.

“This partnership allows us to bring a carefully selected mix of our most engaging titles to an audience that values both entertainment and authenticity. We see huge potential here and this is another step of our journey in the market.”

Carlos Artur, Сasino Manager Specialist at F12.bet.br, added: “Our goal is to provide content that truly reflects what Brazilian players are looking to engage with.

“Evoplay’s games bring a fresh perspective to our offering, combining strong visuals with intuitive gameplay. We’re confident their titles will resonate strongly with our audience.”

The post Evoplay adds F12.bet.br deal to grow in Brazil appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

BETER

BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026

Published

on

beter-to-make-us-exhibition-debut-at-sbc-summit-americas-2026

BETER, one of the award-winning providers of live streams, live data, and odds for esports and sports betting content, will exhibit at SBC Summit Americas for the first time.

The company will be attending at Stand 813, marking a major milestone in the company’s expansion across the United States.

SBC Summit Americas 2026 takes place from June 9–11 at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, bringing together more than 10,000 industry professionals and over 400 exhibitors.

BETER will be welcoming delegates interested in enhancing their sportsbook offerings with fast-paced content and cutting-edge solutions at Stand 813.

Since entering the regulated US market in 2025, BETER has secured regulatory approvals and licenses in nine states, including Florida, New Jersey, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa,  North Carolina, Illinois, and Kentucky.

BETER exclusively delivers 24/7 live streaming, real-time data, and hyper-accurate odds for more than 700,000 fast-paced esports and sports events annually to operators worldwide, offering up to 50 markets per event and an average operator margin of 7.5%+.

Its esports portfolio includes the ESportsBattle product featuring eFootball, eBasketball, eHockey, and eTennis. Its sports portfolio features the Setka Cup table tennis content and the BSKT Cup basketball league.

In addition, BETER provides its Esports Odds Feed, offering market-leading odds with the  highest uptime across 450+ tournaments globally, covering more than 40,000 pre-match and live events annually, all powered by a team of in-house expert traders.

All of BETER’s exclusive content is underpinned by its Integrity team, ensuring strict adherence to fair play standards through 24/7 monitoring and close collaboration with key sports integrity bodies, including IBIA and ESIC, and sports federations.

The company’s rapid impact across the US market, alongside the strong performance of its products and the quality of its data, has earned it two nominations at the prestigious SBC Awards Americas 2026 – Rising Star in Sports Betting and Live Gaming & Betting Product.

Gal Ehrlich, CEO of BETER, said: “We have made significant progress in establishing BETER as a trusted provider in the United States over the past 12 months.

Our participation in this exhibition marks an important milestone as we make our official debut in the region, showcasing the strength and scalability of products that are already proven globally.

“We are excited to present our full product suite to a US audience for the first time and warmly invite all attendees to visit us at Stand 813 to meet the team and explore partnership opportunities.”

Chuck Robinson, CRO at BETER, added: “Our presence at SBC Summit Americas reflects the strong momentum behind our content and solutions, as well as the growing demand from operators for high-performance esports and sports betting products.

“As we expand further across regulated US markets, we see significant opportunities to deepen partnerships and drive innovation in fast-betting experiences. We look forward to connecting with both existing partners and new ones at our stand.”

“Book a meeting with BETER team”, says the company.

The post BETER to make US exhibition debut at SBC Summit Americas 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Brazil

Evoplay accelerates Brazilian expansion with F12.bet.br partnership

Published

on

evoplay-accelerates-brazilian-expansion-with-f12bet.br-partnership

Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has partnered with F12.bet.br, further expanding its presence in Brazil’s fast-evolving regulated market. 

The partnership will see the selection of Evoplay’s popular titles, including Penalty Shoot Out: Cup Mania and Hot Triple Sevens, made available to Brazilian players via F12.bet.br’s online casino. 

F12.bet.br is an emerging force in Brazil’s online gaming and sports betting sector. The company delivers a range of digital betting and interactive entertainment services, aligning with the country’s developing regulatory framework and growing demand for licensed online gaming experiences.

 By partnering with local operators such as F12.bet.br, Evoplay continues to strengthen its position in one of the industry’s most promising regions, reinforcing its commitment to delivering engaging, localised content to players across Latin America. 

Alex Malchenko, Head of Sales, said: “Brazil is one of the most exciting markets in global iGaming right now. The pace and scale of its growth, mixed with the passion for sports and gaming amongst its players, makes it a unique opportunity for us.

“This partnership allows us to bring a carefully selected mix of our most engaging titles to an audience that values both entertainment and authenticity. We see huge potential here and this is another step of our journey in the market.”

 Carlos Artur, Сasino Manager Specialist at F12.bet.br, added: “Our goal is to provide content that truly reflects what Brazilian players are looking to engage with. 

“Evoplay’s games bring a fresh perspective to our offering, combining strong visuals with intuitive gameplay. We’re confident their titles will resonate strongly with our audience.”

The post Evoplay accelerates Brazilian expansion with F12.bet.br partnership appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania