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

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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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Atlaslive

Certified Platforms: Why Operators Choose Them Early

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certified-platforms:-why-operators-choose-them-early

Certification isn’t something operators “add later” if things go well. In most cases, it’s a foundational choice—one that affects audits, integrations, expansion, and stability from the start.

Atlaslive is a certified dynamic platform, and this article reflects practical operational experience. So why do strong operators prioritize certified platforms early?

Trust Is Built Through Platform Behavior

In iGaming, trust doesn’t come from messaging. It comes from performance. Certification helps establish predictable standards for security, data handling, transactions, and incident response.

  • Operators work with clearer processes and fewer ad-hoc decisions.
  • Players experience stability, fairness, and responsible data practices.
  • Partners (PSPs, suppliers, affiliates) face less uncertainty.

Easier Market Entry and Smoother Alignment

Entering a new market involves constant interaction with regulators, auditors, PSPs, and local partners. Certified platforms provide a recognizable foundation, reducing friction.

  • Operators reduce last-minute changes and rework during audits.
  • Players see fewer disruptions when rules differ between jurisdictions.
  • Partners approve and integrate faster due to familiar operating models.

Stability and Risk Reduction at Scale

As operations expand, risk management becomes operational, not theoretical. Certification supports it through documented controls and structured incident response.

  • Operators can manage teams and markets with less operational chaos.
  • Players face fewer interruptions and platform issues.
  • Partners reduce commercial risk through predictable behavior.

Growth that doesn’t require constant rebuilding

Competitive advantage in 2026 is about scaling without breaking systems. Certification supports long-term readiness.

  • Operators can plan growth without restructuring core systems.
  • Players experience continuity across expansion and growth spikes.
  • Partners cooperate more confidently.

Timing Matters More Than Intention

Many operators pursue certification—the difference is when. Early certification aligns with architecture and processes. Late certification often requires retrofitting and operational disruption.

Conclusion

Certification strengthens platform reliability, regulatory alignment, and trust across the ecosystem. It makes market entry smoother and scaling more predictable. Atlaslive is built around this logic: certification as long-term readiness, not a one-off milestone.

This document is provided to you for your information and discussion only. This document was based on public sources of information and was created by the Atlaslive team for marketing usage. It is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any gambling-related product. Nothing in this document constitutes legal or business development advice. This document has been prepared from sources Atlaslive believes to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and do not accept liability for any loss arising from its use. Atlaslive reserves the right to remedy any errors that may be present in this document.

About Atlaslive

Atlaslive is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.

The post Certified Platforms: Why Operators Choose Them Early appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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3 Fortune Trees.

Kendoo interview: Can stability be the new innovation?

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What innovation consists of within the slots industry is often debated. While there are often calls for more groundbreaking features to be introduced, the reality is that the progression of trusted and popular concepts is what drives the industry forward with new releases.

We caught up with the Kendoo’s Commercial Director, Kate Romanenko, to understand more on how long-term retention is often underpinned by controlled evolution of proven concepts, as shown in the company’s success over the past year.

 

In an industry driven by novelty, why do you think long-term consistency is becoming just as valuable as innovation?

In the competitive iGaming market, everyone is obsessed with “what’s next,” long-term consistency has become a signal of trust. Operators are increasingly cautious: they want games that perform predictably over time, not just those who grow only on launch. Controlled evolution, like we showed with 3 Pots and 4 Pots games, such as 3 Fortune Trees, 3 Gates of Pyramid, 4 Egypt Scarabs etc., proves that you can refresh mechanics and visuals without breaking what already works. Innovation still matters, but when it’s backed by performance data and retention, it becomes scalable, sustainable value rather than short-lived hype.

How does Kendoo ensure technical and gameplay stability across its growing portfolio, especially as it scales into new markets?

At Kendoo, we build on a select set of well-tested core mechanics, evolving them thoughtfully rather than introducing unproven systems. Each game reflects our research, experience, and deep understanding of player needs. This approach lets us expand into new markets without compromising reliability, delivering operators consistent performance and players a smooth, familiar experience they can trust.

What role does reliability play in building strong partnerships with aggregators and platforms?

Reliability is the foundation of trust with aggregators and platforms. When integrations are stable, launches are predictable, and games perform consistently, partners can scale with confidence. For Kendoo, reliability reduces operational friction on their side, fewer incidents, faster rollouts, and clearer performance expectations. Over time, this turns a supplier relationship into a long-term partnership, where growth is planned together rather than driven by constant risk around new releases.

Do you think players are beginning to value dependable, well-balanced games over constant experimentation?

Players enjoy novelty, but they return to games that feel fair, familiar, and well-balanced. Constant experimentation can create friction, while dependable mechanics build confidence and habit. That’s why evolved formats with proven performance tend to retain better: players know what to expect, and that reliability turns curiosity into long-term engagement. For example, taking mechanics like Pots, which originated in land-based casinos, and successfully adapting them for online play.

Can you point to a Kendoo title that’s become a steady performer over time and what that tells you about what players really value?

A clear example is 3 Fortune Trees. Since launch, it has consistently driven strong retention and engagement across markets, with an average of 500 bets per player, which is excellent. The game demonstrates that players value Pots mechanics and reliable, well-balanced gameplay over flashy, one-off features. Its engaging mechanics, popular theme, and premium art and animation all come together to create a game that players love to play.

The post Kendoo interview: Can stability be the new innovation? appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Atlaslive

Certified Platforms: Why Operators Choose Them Early

Published

on

certified-platforms:-why-operators-choose-them-early

Certification isn’t something operators “add later” if things go well. In most cases, it’s a foundational choice—one that affects audits, integrations, expansion, and stability from the start.

Atlaslive is a certified dynamic platform, and this article reflects practical operational experience. So why do strong operators prioritize certified platforms early?

Trust Is Built Through Platform Behavior

In iGaming, trust doesn’t come from messaging. It comes from performance. Certification helps establish predictable standards for security, data handling, transactions, and incident response.

  • Operators work with clearer processes and fewer ad-hoc decisions.
  • Players experience stability, fairness, and responsible data practices.
  • Partners (PSPs, suppliers, affiliates) face less uncertainty.

Easier Market Entry and Smoother Alignment

Entering a new market involves constant interaction with regulators, auditors, PSPs, and local partners. Certified platforms provide a recognizable foundation, reducing friction.

  • Operators reduce last-minute changes and rework during audits.
  • Players see fewer disruptions when rules differ between jurisdictions.
  • Partners approve and integrate faster due to familiar operating models.

Stability and Risk Reduction at Scale

As operations expand, risk management becomes operational, not theoretical. Certification supports it through documented controls and structured incident response.

  • Operators can manage teams and markets with less operational chaos.
  • Players face fewer interruptions and platform issues.
  • Partners reduce commercial risk through predictable behavior.

Growth that doesn’t require constant rebuilding

Competitive advantage in 2026 is about scaling without breaking systems. Certification supports long-term readiness.

  • Operators can plan growth without restructuring core systems.
  • Players experience continuity across expansion and growth spikes.
  • Partners cooperate more confidently.

Timing Matters More Than Intention

Many operators pursue certification—the difference is when. Early certification aligns with architecture and processes. Late certification often requires retrofitting and operational disruption.

Conclusion

Certification strengthens platform reliability, regulatory alignment, and trust across the ecosystem. It makes market entry smoother and scaling more predictable. Atlaslive is built around this logic: certification as long-term readiness, not a one-off milestone.

This document is provided to you for your information and discussion only. This document was based on public sources of information and was created by the Atlaslive team for marketing usage. It is not a solicitation or an offer to buy or sell any gambling-related product. Nothing in this document constitutes legal or business development advice. This document has been prepared from sources Atlaslive believes to be reliable, but we do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and do not accept liability for any loss arising from its use. Atlaslive reserves the right to remedy any errors that may be present in this document.

About Atlaslive

Atlaslive is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.

The post Certified Platforms: Why Operators Choose Them Early appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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