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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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Vegangster Launches а Native PvP Mechanic as a New GGR Driver
Vegangster has introduced a native PvP mechanic, a platform-level feature designed to create competitive player interactions while generating additional revenue for operators.
Fully embedded into the platform, the mechanic can be customised to match any operator’s theme, visual identity, and positioning, making it easy to integrate into existing casino experiences
Unlike third-party game integrations, the PvP mechanic is built directly into the Vegangster platform. Operators can place it in prominent areas such as the casino homepage or other high-visibility lobby sections, ensuring players can easily discover and join active rounds. The feature is available for a fixed fee, allowing operators to generate additional GGR without relying on revenue-share models or external providers.
How the PvP Mechanic Works
- A player starts a round by placing the first bet, creating an open battle visible to others
- Other players join by adding their bets to the pool, with a minimum of two participants required
- If no one joins, the initiating player automatically receives their bet back
- Once players join, a short countdown begins before the round resolves
- A random roll determines the winner, with probability weighted by bet size
With each round requiring multiple participants, the mechanic introduces a visible, social layer inside the casino lobby. Players are encouraged to join ongoing rounds, react in real time, and compete for shared prize pools.
The structure is designed for short, repeatable sessions, increasing player activity and creating continuous engagement loops across the platform.
“Casino lobbies rarely show players interacting with each other,” said Michael Oziransky, Chief Product Officer at Vegangster. “This mechanic introduces real-time competition directly into the lobby. Players can see activity, react to it, and challenge each other instantly. Combined with chat, it turns the lobby into a more social, responsive space while creating an additional, low-cost revenue stream for operators.”
The feature is already live on JoyCasino, one of Vegangster’s operator partners, where players can experience it directly within the lobby. For this deployment, the PvP mechanic was fully adapted to JoyCasino’s visual identity and brand guidelines, demonstrating how easily the feature can be tailored to different themes, styles, and player environments without requiring structural changes to the platform.
The launch continues Vegangster’s strategy of developing platform-native engagement mechanics that complement traditional casino content. Following the introduction of native lootboxes earlier this year, the company plans to further expand its catalogue of session-based and social features.
Press contact:
Romans Kozlovskis
The post Vegangster Launches а Native PvP Mechanic as a New GGR Driver appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Andrea Faelli
AS Roma Announces Multi-year Partnership with Eurobet.live
AS Roma has announced a multi-year agreement with Eurobet.live, which becomes the Club’s new Main Sponsor.
Starting this season and until the 28/29 season, the Eurobet.live brand will appear on the First Team jerseys, marking the beginning of a strategic collaboration between two entities that share the same DNA, forged on passion, resilience and a constant pursuit of excellence.
The agreement represents an important step in the Club’s commercial growth and demonstrates the desire to develop innovative fan-focused projects, further strengthening the relationship between Roma, its partners, and the sports community. For Eurobet.live, the collaboration with AS Roma represents a genuine connection with the world of football and sport, as tools capable of generating social, cultural and regional value.
“We share with Eurobet.live the ambition to develop a series of digital initiatives designed to engage fans across all our platforms. By combining the global reach and passion of our fan base with Eurobet.live’s expertise in infotainment and digital, we are confident that this partnership will create new and innovative ways for fans to connect with the club,” said Vice President Ryan Friedkin.
“We are proud to launch this collaboration with AS Roma, one of the most iconic clubs in Italian and European football. This partnership—which represents an important step in our growth and consolidation in the world of sports—goes far beyond a commercial agreement: it is a promise of long-term development and innovation, aimed at enhancing sports culture at all levels and strengthening our ties with the local community,” said Andrea Faelli, CEO of Eurobet Italia.
The post AS Roma Announces Multi-year Partnership with Eurobet.live appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETBY
BETBY Appoints Gonzalo Navarro as Senior Business Development Manager
BETBY, the Tier 1 B2B sportsbook supplier, has reinforced its commitment to Latin America with the appointment of Gonzalo Navarro as Senior Business Development Manager.
Navarro joins BETBY with a strong commercial background in the iGaming and technology sectors, bringing extensive experience in B2B sales, strategic partnerships, and business development across Latin America. Prior to joining BETBY, he held senior commercial roles at Vibra Gaming and Control F5, where he was responsible for driving growth initiatives, expanding market presence, and developing relationships with key operators and partners throughout the region.
With deep knowledge of the Latin American iGaming landscape and an established network across the industry, Navarro will focus on expanding BETBY’s footprint in the region, strengthening partnerships, and identifying new growth opportunities as the provider continues its global expansion.
In his new role, Navarro will work closely with BETBY’s commercial team to further accelerate the supplier’s presence in LATAM, supporting operators with BETBY’s award-winning sportsbook solution and innovative product offering.
Gonzalo Navarro, Senior Business Development Manager at BETBY, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining BETBY at such an exciting stage of its growth. The company has built a truly impressive sportsbook product, and LATAM is a region full of opportunities. I look forward to working with the team to strengthen BETBY’s presence and build long-term partnerships with operators across the region.”
Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY, said: “Gonzalo’s experience and deep understanding of the Latin American market make him a valuable addition to our commercial team. His strong industry relationships and proven track record in business development will play an important role as we continue to expand our presence across LATAM.”
The post BETBY Appoints Gonzalo Navarro as Senior Business Development Manager appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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