Latest News
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.
Powered by WPeMatico
CT Interactive
CT Interactive Launches New Titles on Ifortuna.sk
CT Interactive has announced the expansion of its presence in the regulated Slovak market through the launch of a selected portfolio of the company’s top-performing games on Ifortuna.sk, part of the Fortuna Entertainment Group.
Slovak players can now enjoy some of the company’s most popular titles, including 50 Treasures, Fruits & Sweets Buy Bonus, 100x Crypto Magic, Duck Of Luck Buy Bonus, 20 Mega Star, 100x Fresh, Dancing Dragons, Nanook The White Ghost Buy Bonus and The Big Chili. Several of these games feature the company’s engaging Buy Bonus mechanics, offering players enhanced interactivity and greater control over their gameplay.
“The expansion of our content offering on Ifortuna.sk represents a major step in our broader international growth strategy. We are delighted to provide our valued partner with a compelling and diverse portfolio of games, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the Slovak market,” said Martin Ivanov, Chief Operating Officer at CT Interactive.
“Our newly certified portfolio brings a fresh and dynamic gaming experience tailored specifically to the Slovak audience. Each title has been carefully developed to boost player retention while delivering a more personalized and engaging gaming experience,” added Ivan Zoumpalov, Regional Manager for the Czech Republic and Slovakia at CT Interactive.
The post CT Interactive Launches New Titles on Ifortuna.sk appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Amusnet
Connecting Business and Diplomacy: Amusnet Supports BBLF’s Annual Meeting of the Diplomatic Corps
Amusnet has supported the 10th Annual Meeting between the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum (BBLF) and the Diplomatic Corps, reaffirming its commitment to initiatives that foster dialogue, responsible business and Bulgaria’s long-term economic development.
Held at InterContinental Sofia, this year’s high-level forum brought together ambassadors, senior government officials and executives from leading Bulgarian and international companies under the theme “Bulgaria: Prospects for Rapid Economic Transformation”. The discussions explored the country’s potential to accelerate economic growth through innovation, digitalisation, strategic investments and stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors.
As a long-standing partner of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum, Amusnet continues to support initiatives that create meaningful dialogue around the future of Bulgaria’s economy and business environment. The annual meeting serves as one of the country’s most important platforms for exchanging ideas between the diplomatic community, institutional leaders and the business sector.
“Supporting initiatives that encourage collaboration and forward-looking dialogue is part of our commitment to responsible business. We believe that sustainable economic growth is driven by strong partnerships and a shared vision for the future,” said Ivo Georgiev, CEO of Amusnet.
This year’s forum focused on topics including Bulgaria’s investment attractiveness, technological advancement, talent development and the opportunities created by closer cooperation between business, government and international partners. The event once again highlighted the importance of building an environment that encourages competitiveness and sustainable growth.
For Amusnet, supporting the BBLF Annual Meeting reflects the company’s broader commitment to contributing to Bulgaria’s business ecosystem beyond its core operations. As one of the country’s leading software companies, Amusnet continues to stand behind initiatives that promote responsible leadership and long-term economic progress.
The partnership further strengthens Amusnet’s collaboration with BBLF and underscores the company’s belief that sustainable growth is achieved through dialogue, shared expertise and collective action.
The post Connecting Business and Diplomacy: Amusnet Supports BBLF’s Annual Meeting of the Diplomatic Corps appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andrzej Hyla
Wazdan Launches First Stage of Summer Network Promotion with Mystery Drop
Wazdan, the leading gain-focused developer, has launched the first stage of its summer-long Network Promotion campaign to partner operators from 29th June to 19th July 2026.
As part of a wider three-stage seasonal campaign running throughout the summer, the opening phase centres around Mystery Drop, one of Wazdan’s established promotional tools designed to enhance player engagement through an additional reward layer during gameplay.
During active game sessions, Mystery Drop gives players the opportunity to win cash or physical prizes. Once the feature is triggered, players select one of nine Mystery Boxes to reveal their reward, adding an extra level of anticipation and entertainment to the gameplay experience.
Designed as a ready-to-use promotional solution for operators, Mystery Drop requires no additional integration and does not impact the RTP of the base game. Powered by a certified independent RNG engine, the tool can also be tailored to meet the requirements of individual casinos and regulated markets.
The first stage of the Wazdan Summer Drop marks the beginning of a wider summer initiative, with additional campaign phases featuring further engagement mechanics set to launch later in the season.
Andrzej Hyla, Chief Commercial Officer at Wazdan, said: “Remaining an innovative supplier in an increasingly competitive market means continuously delivering engaging experiences that resonate with both players and operators.
“Mystery Drop has proven to be an effective promotional tool for our partners, adding an extra layer of excitement to gameplay while remaining simple to activate and fully customisable for different markets. We are excited to launch the first stage of this summer campaign and continue supporting our partners with memorable promotional experiences throughout the season.”
The post Wazdan Launches First Stage of Summer Network Promotion with Mystery Drop appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
Compliance Updates7 days agoDutch Gambling Trade Association Sues Meta Over Illegal Gambling Ads
-
Amusnet7 days agoAmusnet Strengthens its Position Among Bulgaria’s Leading Employers in ICAP CRIF Ranking
-
Asia6 days agoPhilWeb Secures ₱2.02 Billion Strategic Investment from Lance Y. Gokongwei to Accelerate AI-Driven Technology Expansion
-
adtech7 days agoPropellerAds says Social Traffic lifts game registrations 34.5% in Nigeria test
-
Canada6 days agoGaming Corps goes live with OLG iCasino in Ontario
-
Africa6 days agoBGaming signs PlaylogiQ distribution deal to grow Africa reach
-
3 Oaks Gaming6 days ago3 Oaks Gaming releases Joker Glitz x1000 slot with stacked multipliers
-
BGaming6 days agoLatAm: Beyond Brazil – Chile, Uruguay and Peru’s Regulatory Trajectories



