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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.
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Record-breaking volumes at the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, powered by OpenBet technology
OpenBet, a global leader in betting and gaming technology, powered record-breaking volumes for World Sports Betting (WSB) during the 2026 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, processing more than three times WSB’s typical daily activity with zero downtime.
The Cape Town Met is one of South Africa’s premier horseracing events, drawing intense traffic that tests platform performance. Less than a year after migrating to OpenBet’s unified technology stack, WSB demonstrated the resilience and scalability of its platform under extreme demand.
OpenBet’s Player Account Management (PAM) technology and sportsbook solution — phased in with PAM going live in February 2025 and the sportsbook in October 2025 — now underpin WSB’s enterprise-grade wagering infrastructure across both digital and retail channels. The integrated system delivers streamlined KYC, a unified wallet, accurate reporting and a robust compliance framework designed for South Africa’s regulatory environment.
Enhanced features available to WSB customers include 50-leg accumulators, partially redeemable free bets, advanced Telebet telephone betting and integrated pools betting for sports and racing through OpenBet’s advanced trading system.
“With the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, we processed more than three times the usual volume with zero downtime, showcasing the strength and scalability of our technology,” said Runa Walia Desai, Chief Customer Experience Officer at OpenBet. “This milestone also extends our footprint into Africa, reinforcing our position across six continents.”
Warren Tannous, CEO of World Sports Betting, added that OpenBet’s modular solution gives the operator the confidence to expand its sportsbook offering and support increased user engagement while maintaining performance and compliance.
The post Record-breaking volumes at the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, powered by OpenBet technology appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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Choice Gaming Launches Evra Crash in Exclusive Collaboration with Patrice Evra
Choice Gaming has officially launched Evra Crash, a new multiplayer crash game developed in exclusive collaboration with football legend Patrice Evra.
The title blends high-energy crash mechanics with football culture, delivering a synchronized, shared-table experience designed to boost player engagement and social interaction.
A Football Icon Powers the Gameplay
At the center of Evra Crash is Patrice Evra, one of football’s most recognizable personalities. His presence adds authenticity and competitive intensity to the gameplay, reinforcing the game’s energetic, community-driven concept. The partnership between Choice Gaming and Evra aims to merge competitive spirit with immersive entertainment in the fast-growing crash gaming segment.
Multiplayer Crash Experience
Unlike traditional single-session crash games, Evra Crash is built around real-time shared rounds:
- All players join the same round simultaneously
- Fully networked multiplayer participation
- Visible, synchronized gameplay across users
This structure creates a social crash environment where anticipation builds collectively, increasing engagement and enhancing the thrill of each round.
Game Features & Performance Metrics
Evra Crash offers a balanced gameplay structure designed for broad player appeal:
- RTP: 95%
- Maximum Multiplier: 10,000x
- Volatility: Low
The low-volatility model provides consistent entertainment while maintaining the potential for high multipliers, positioning Evra Crash as an accessible yet exciting crash title in the iGaming market.
Cross-Platform Optimization
Built for seamless performance across environments, Evra Crash is:
- Fully mobile-optimized
- Compatible with land-based gaming solutions
- Designed for consistent cross-platform gameplay
Whether accessed online or in physical gaming venues, players experience uninterrupted performance and smooth gameplay integration.
The post Choice Gaming Launches Evra Crash in Exclusive Collaboration with Patrice Evra appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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EARN YOUR PLACE AMONG THE BEST AS POKERSTARS REVEALS SCHEDULE FOR PRESTIGIOUS SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP OF ONLINE POKER
More than $45 million guaranteed across 400 tournament opportunities for all players to earn their greatness
The full schedule for poker’s first major online series of the year, PokerStars prestigious Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), has been unveiled featuring 136 events and more than $45 million guaranteed.
From March 1 to 25, players have the chance to earn their greatness once more and battle for an acclaimed SCOOP title across three weeks of elite online poker action. The 136-event schedule (with a total of 400 tournaments) offers low, medium, and high buy-in levels from $5.50 to $15,000, and a wide range of formats including No-Limit Hold’em, PLO, 8-Game, Mystery Bounties, Turbo, and Deep Stack events, making SCOOP accessible for everyone.
KEY SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
The flagship Main Events will be a schedule highlight and will award a total of $5.5 million across the NLHE Main Events on March 22, and $550,000 across the PLO Main Events on March 23.
- $109 SCOOP NLHE Main Event Low – $1.5 million guaranteed
- $1,050 SCOOP NLHE Main Event Med – $2 million guaranteed
- $5,200 SCOOP NLHE Main Event High – $2 million guaranteed
- 109 SCOOP PLO Main Event Low – $100,000 guaranteed
- $1,050 SCOOP PLO Main Event Med – $200,000 guaranteed
- $5,200 SCOOP PLO Main Event High – $250,000 guaranteed
Other highlights of the 18th edition of SCOOP include:
- March 1 – $215 Sunday Million PKO – $1 million guaranteed
- March 8 – $22 Mystery Sunday Special, $300,000 guaranteed – All-in Shoot Out for United Kingdom & Ireland players to award an Emerald Pass to the Irish Open on March 10 at 7am GMT
- March 8 – $109 Sunday Million PKO – $1 million guaranteed
- March 15 – $55 Mini Sunday Million PKO – $500,000 guaranteed – All-in Shoot Out for United Kingdom & Ireland players to award an Emerald Pass to the Irish Open on March 17 at 7am GMT
- March 15 – $530 Sunday Million – $1 million guaranteed
As well as the huge prizes and trophies on offer, players can also compete in the SCOOP Leaderboards where an additional $100,000 in cash prizes will be awarded across the Low, Medium and High Player of the Series Leaderboards.
As ever, there are a number of qualification routes giving players the chance to qualify into SCOOP events for a fraction of the buy-in. Routes include satellites from just $0.55, the SCOOP Lucky Dip where $500,000 in SCOOP tickets are up for grabs and the $55 Power Path Express SCOOP Edition, on March 1st,where more than $200,000 in SCOOP Power Passes and Main Event tickets will be awarded to boost players’ grind to greatness. Finally, all players are still in time to crack open a SCOOP Prize Vault and earn a SCOOP ticket worth up to $1,050 upon opt-in.
“SCOOP is where greatness isn’t given, it’s earned. Every title represents weeks of preparation, relentless competition and beating the toughest fields in online poker. That’s what makes a SCOOP win so special,” said Steve Clarricoats, Associate Director of Poker Operations at PokerStars. “With a huge schedule and accessible buy-ins and formats, SCOOP remains the title every online player wants on their record.”
For 17 years, SCOOP has been appointment poker of the highest order and winning a SCOOP title has been a bucket list dream for poker players all over the world. More than $1.4 billion in prize pools have been awarded to players since SCOOP started in 2009, with some of the world’s best players earning coveted SCOOP trophies.
Sweden’s Simon “C. Darwin” Mattsson is the greatest player in SCOOP history having earned 14 titles, followed by fellow Swede Niklas “Lena900” Astedt and the UK’s Benny “RunGodlike” Glaser who both have 11 titles, with Benny being the most decorated player in COOP history also having a record-leading 16 WCOOP titles.
For more information about SCOOP head to the PokerStars website or PokerStars Blog.
The post EARN YOUR PLACE AMONG THE BEST AS POKERSTARS REVEALS SCHEDULE FOR PRESTIGIOUS SPRING CHAMPIONSHIP OF ONLINE POKER appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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