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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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Win Systems deploys Wigos CMS at Casino City Center Rosario, linking 2,500+ slots

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The Argentina rollout adds player tracking and QR-based cashless payments via Win Pay, the company says.

Win Systems has implemented its Wigos casino management system (CMS) at Casino City Center Rosario in Argentina, connecting more than 2,500 slot machines to operate and report in real time. The supplier announced the deployment on May 4, 2026.

According to Win Systems, the Wigos rollout centralizes operational management across gaming and customer-facing functions, with modular components spanning slots, tables, players, promotions, and payments. The company said the installation is designed to support operator oversight and decision-making through a single real-time view.

The project also introduces new functionality at the venue, including Player Tracking for player identification and management, and the activation of “Fun Plays.” Win Systems also said the site can enable a QR-based cashless option that allows players to load credit directly to a machine from a bank account or electronic wallet, via its Win Pay payment management platform.

Francisco de Moya, CEO of Halkkon Capital Partners, commented: “This launch represents an important step in the technological evolution of our operation, allowing us to optimize management, enhance the customer experience, and lay the groundwork for future developments.”

Eric Benchimol, CEO of Win Systems, added: “The deployment of Wigos at City Center Rosario is a clear example of how our technology adapts to large-scale operations, enabling operators to optimize processes, improve the player experience, and evolve toward increasingly digitalized models.” Darío Zutel, Executive Chairman of Win Systems, said: “This implementation is part of our growth strategy in the region and reflects our commitment to supporting operators with robust, scalable, and future-ready technology.”

 

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Win Systems drives its expansion with the implementation of Wigos CMS at Casino City Center Rosario

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Win Systems takes another step forward in its international expansion plan with the launch of Wigos CMS at Casino City Center Rosario, strengthening its presence in one of Argentina’s leading entertainment destinations. The installation connects more than 2,500 slot machines, all operating and reporting in real time, reinforcing the operator’s efficiency, control, and decision-making capabilities.

Wigos is the casino management system designed to centralize operations, optimize processes, and provide a complete real-time view of the business. Its scalable and modular architecture allows it to adapt to large-scale operations, integrating slots, tables, players, promotions, and payment management, all under the highest security and regulatory compliance standards. This implementation at City Center Rosario further reinforces Wigos’ role as a key platform for the modernization and digitalization of casino operations.

Casino City Center Rosario is one of the country’s most important entertainment complexes, recognized for its broad offering of gaming, hospitality, gastronomy, and live shows, as well as for its continuous commitment to innovation and operational excellence. Its vision, focused on modernization and the continuous improvement of customer experience, makes it a benchmark within the gaming industry in the region.

This milestone also marks the beginning of new key functionalities within the operation, such as the implementation of Player Tracking for player identification and management, along with the activation of Fun Plays, which bring greater dynamism, engagement, and value to the player experience. In line with the industry’s shift toward increasingly digitalized environments, the project also introduces the possibility for players to load gaming credit directly onto the machine from a bank account or electronic wallet, securely and instantly, through an interoperable QR code. This solution, part of the Win Pay payment management platform, drives a more agile and secure cashless model aligned with the evolving demands of the market.

Francisco de Moya, CEO of Halkkon Capital Partners, commented: “This launch represents an important step in the technological evolution of our operation, allowing us to optimize management, enhance the customer experience, and lay the groundwork for future developments.”

Eric Benchimol, CEO of Win Systems, added: “The deployment of Wigos at City Center Rosario is a clear example of how our technology adapts to large-scale operations, enabling operators to optimize processes, improve the player experience, and evolve toward increasingly digitalized models.”

“This implementation is part of our growth strategy in the region and reflects our commitment to supporting operators with robust, scalable, and future-ready technology,” said Darío Zutel, Executive Chairman of Win Systems. “Moving forward together with a benchmark such as City Center Rosario allows us to further strengthen our positioning and deliver real value to the operation.”

With this new installation, Win Systems reinforces its commitment to the Argentine market and continues to steadily advance its expansion strategy, supporting leading operators with state-of-the-art technological solutions.

 

The post Win Systems drives its expansion with the implementation of Wigos CMS at Casino City Center Rosario appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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SOFTSWISS wins ‘Aggregator of the Year’ at SBC Awards Europe 2026

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SOFTSWISS has solidified its leadership position in the European iGaming market by winning the Game Aggregator of the Year category.

The recognition took place during the prestigious SBC Awards Europe 2026 ceremony, held on April 30 in Malta.

The event served as the official closing of the SBC Summit Malta, bringing together the industry’s top operators, suppliers, and regulators.

The award highlights the platform’s ability to provide content scalability and high-impact engagement tools for its global partners.

Technical performance and scale at the industry’s core

With a portfolio exceeding 40,000 titles, the SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator connects operators with over 300 providers across 24 regulated jurisdictions.

Beyond volume, technical stability remains a key pillar, maintaining a 99.999% uptime even during peak traffic loads.

Tatyana Kaminskaya, Head of SOFTSWISS Game Aggregator, celebrated the win in Malta, often considered the capital of the iGaming world.

According to Kaminskaya, the award reflects the team’s dedication to creating a practical tool for the daily management of operator brands.

Innovation in retention and new prediction markets

The victory at the SBC Awards follows the recent launch of new features, such as the Tournament Report and Instant Tournaments.

These tools allow operators to monitor campaign metrics in real-time and adjust marketing strategies without switching platforms.

The company has also diversified its B2B offering with the introduction of its Prediction Markets Platform.

This solution focuses on fixed-odds for real-world events, covering areas ranging from politics and economy to technology.

With over 15 years of experience and a team of 2,000 professionals, SOFTSWISS reaffirms its role as a global technology hub in the gaming ecosystem.

The post SOFTSWISS wins ‘Aggregator of the Year’ at SBC Awards Europe 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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