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

Published

4 years ago

December 1, 2021

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.

Ani Kobaldze

REEVO Announces New Partnership with Esoterica Games

Published

17 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-announces-new-partnership-with-esoterica-games

REEVO has announced a new partnership with Esoterica Games, a fast-growing provider of innovative casino content. This collaboration further strengthens REEVO’s aggregation ecosystem, expanding its offering with a diverse portfolio that includes slots, crash games, player-to-player experiences and instant games.

Through this partnership, Esoterica Games’ portfolio is now available on the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to a wide range of creative and flexible gaming experiences through a single integration. The addition of Esoterica Games reinforces REEVO’s commitment to building a platform that delivers both variety and performance across multiple player segments.

For REEVO, this partnership reflects its continued focus on expanding its aggregation platform with forward-thinking studios that bring creativity and innovation to the ecosystem.

Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Esoterica Games is an exciting step forward for REEVO as we continue to expand our aggregation platform with innovative and diverse content. Their ability to deliver multiple game formats, from slots to crash and P2P experiences, adds real depth to our ecosystem. At REEVO, we focus on giving operators access to content that stands out and performs, and this partnership strengthens our ability to deliver engaging and flexible experiences across different markets.”

Ani Kobaldze, Account Manager at Esoterica Games, said: “We are excited to partner with REEVO and bring our portfolio of innovative games to an even wider audience. This partnership represents an important step in expanding our global reach and delivering high-quality gaming experiences to more operators and players worldwide. By combining our unique portfolio with REEVO’s strong distribution network and commitment to quality, we look forward to creating even greater value for operators and players alike.”

The post REEVO Announces New Partnership with Esoterica Games appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Betway

Betway Signs Real Madrid Legend Guti as Brand Ambassador

Published

17 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

Betway officially signed Real Madrid legend Jose María Gutiérrez ‘Guti’ as a new brand ambassador for their Spanish market operations.

A true Spanish football legend, Guti came through the Real Madrid youth academy before making his first-team debut in a 4-1 win over Sevilla at The Bernabéu in December 1995. He went on to represent ‘Los Blancos’ 542 times between 1995 & 2010, scoring 77 goals and helping the club to 15 major trophies. He received his first cap for Spain in May 1999 and went on to represent his country on 13 occasions between 1999 and 2005.

Guti left his beloved Real Madrid in 2010, playing one final season for Turkish side Besiktas, before hanging up his boots in 2012. Post-retirement, coaching positions at Real Madrid and Besiktas led to his appointment as manager of Segunda side Almeria in 2019. Since leaving the club the following year, he has gone on to work in TV punditry, becoming a highly respected figure within the Spanish football media.

“Guti joins Betway as one of the greatest legends in Real Madrid’s recent history. He represents loyalty to the colours, excellence, and the purest talent in world football, making him the perfect ambassador for Betway in Spain,” Ignacio Alonso, Marketing Manager for Betway Spain, said.

“I’m excited to join Betway Spain as an ambassador. My time in elite football showed me that quality and commitment are inseparable; today, I’m proud to represent those values with a market leader and share this path with all of you,” Guti said.

The post Betway Signs Real Madrid Legend Guti as Brand Ambassador appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

KSA Tightens Gambling Ad and Betting Rules Ahead of FIFA World Cup

Published

17 minutes ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

ksa-tightens-gambling-ad-and-betting-rules-ahead-of-fifa-world-cup

The Dutch Gaming Authority is intensifying its supervision of advertising and sports betting during the World Cup this summer. Prior to the World Cup, Dutch license holders were specifically reminded by letter of the applicable rules regarding advertising and betting offers.

In the letter, the KSA points out, among other things, the ban on untargeted advertising and sports sponsorship. The KSA also reminds providers that not all types of online betting are permitted in the Netherlands; for example, betting on who receives a yellow card or the first corner kick is not allowed. In the event of violations, the KSA takes immediate enforcement action.

During this period, the KSA is also extra vigilant regarding illegal providers and advertising for illegal offerings: immediate punitive action is being taken in these cases as well. Additionally, during the World Cup, attention is being paid to the risks of sports betting, particularly to raise awareness among young people.

Michel Groothuizen, Chairman of the Board of the Gaming Authority, said: “We saw at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship that gambling increased. This makes it attractive for companies to attract new players during that period. While I understand this, I strongly urge providers to remain mindful of the protection of young adults and other vulnerable groups, and to adhere to the applicable rules. If we observe that this is not happening, we will take immediate action.”

The post KSA Tightens Gambling Ad and Betting Rules Ahead of FIFA World Cup appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.