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
David Mann Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt
Swintt bring players four times the fun in Lucky Fortune Door Wild
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Sought-after software provider’s enhanced Premium release sees players step into the glow of the Far East as wild symbols and Quadspins combine for huge rewards
With Swintt having already opened the way to a world of wonder in the original Lucky Fortune Door, this month the award-winning software provider is back in action again with Lucky Fortune Door Wild – an exciting reboot that gives players even more ways to win!
Like its SwinttPremium predecessor, Lucky Fortune Door Wild is a five-reel slot that can be played with either five or ten paylines. Boasting an engaging Far East theme, the slot combines dragons, yin and yang pendants and coins with new golden ingot wilds that substitute for all other symbols.
The good news for fans of the original game is that the slot’s signature Quadspin mechanic again makes a welcome return. Activated whenever a win of at least 4x the bet is triggered, players will have the choice to either claim their current prize or gamble a portion of it to activate Quadspins.
Should they decide for the latter option, the gameboard will be divided into four separate reel sets to potentially quadruple the prizes on offer – and of course, with substitute wilds now also in play, the chances of players landing the slot’s maximum 6,000x win multiplier will be greatly increased.
As a further incentive, during Quadspins, an extra mystery symbol is also added to the reels. Should any instances of this icon appear on any of the four reel sets, they will be replaced by a random matching symbol to create additional payline wins and generate potentially huge prizes.
On top of this, should players continue to land wins of 4x their bet or greater during Quadspins, they can elect to remain in the feature for longer. With a maximum of 50 Quadspin available per set, the odds of them embarking on a prolonged winning streak are, therefore, much more likely.
To cap it off, all wins in Lucky Fortune Door Wild are paid from both left-to-right and right-to-left, meaning that no matter how aggressively players choose to play, fortune is only ever a spin away.
David Mann, Chief Commercial Officer at Swintt, said: “With Swintt’s signature Quadspin mechanic proving a hugely popular addition to our Premium line-up, we’re delighted to be giving the feature another outing in Lucky Fortune Door Wild. Offering the same great gameplay as the original release but now with added wilds, it’s sure to be a big hit with players and operators alike.”
The post Swintt bring players four times the fun in Lucky Fortune Door Wild appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
18Peaches
18Peaches’ Squid Gold X2 plunges players into a mystical treasure hunt
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Squid Gold X2 by 18Peaches invites players to dive deep into a world of mystery, magic and forgotten riches. Set within a sacred castle filled with ancient relics and hidden chambers, every spin feels like a step deeper into the unknown. The legendary golden squid is said to guard untold fortunes, and only the bravest adventurers will uncover its secrets.
The journey plays out across a 5×5 grid with 50 paylines, where expanding reels can unlock up to 100 paylines for even greater rewards.
With enchanting artifacts, secret rooms, and the electrifying Squid 500 feature, no spin ever feels ordinary. Add in Free Spins, Wild expansions and instant bonus access via Buy Bonus, and Squid Gold X2 becomes a pulse-raising treasure hunt built for thrill-seekers.
“With Squid Gold X2, our goal was to create a journey where every spin feels like a step closer to unlocking a forgotten legend,” says 18Peaches Chief Strategy Officer Arsen Tadevosyan. “We designed mechanics like Squid 500 and the X2 expanding reels to build momentum, each trigger feels like a gate opening, both visually and emotionally. It’s that feeling of chasing something mythical, where every feature builds anticipation and drives you deeper into the experience.”
“When reels expand, paylines double, and the chamber glows with energy, players feel the story unfolding through mechanics. That flow, the rise in tension, the surge of possibility, is what makes Squid Gold X2 such a captivating adventure.”
As with all 18Peaches’ releases, Squid Gold X2
is bursting with features that keep every moment alive. The highlight is the legendary Squid 500 mechanic.
Whenever a Wild lands and expands, it triggers the sacred Golden Gate, unlocking hidden energy within the castle walls. As the gate opens, the power of the golden squid surges through the reels, doubling your paylines and dramatically boosting winning potential.
There’s also our X2 Mechanic. During bonus rounds, when the Golden Gate rises it reveals additional rows, expanding the grid and transforming 50 paylines into a breathtaking 100-line battlefield of rewards.
Squid Gold X2 is the latest addition to 18Peaches’ fast-growing catalogue of hit titles that continue to resonate with modern players. Recent successes such as Leprechaun Jackpot Collector, Monster Load-Up Hold & Win, and the high-adrenaline Hacker Crash
Jackpot have firmly established the studio as a creator of distinctive, high-engagement experiences.
As with all 18Peaches titles, Squid Gold X2 is built for effortless market deployment. The platform supports Sweepstakes and Free Rounds via API, enabling operators to easily tailor promotional strategies across diverse regulatory environments.
The post 18Peaches’ Squid Gold X2 plunges players into a mystical treasure hunt appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Booming Games
Booming Games Takes Players Sky-High with Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme 10,000
Reading Time: < 1 minute
Take to the skies and soar like an eagle, then swoop in and grab big wins by spinning the reels of Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme from Booming Games. This action-packed, feature-filled slot is a wild adventure with a chance to win up to 10,000x.
Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme is a 5×3, 25-fixed payline slot. The winning fun takes off when multiplier prize symbols land in the base game for a chance to trigger the Eagle Bonus feature that awards a spin on the Bonus Wheel, which can award Multiplier prize collect, Mini, Minor or Major Prize Pots or even an instant Hold and Win Extreme Bonus.
Hold and Win Extreme features four 3×5 grids and 3 Respins. Land multiplier prize symbols to unlock the other grids. Completing a grid will award a x2 Win Multiplier to all symbols or landing all 60 positions to complete all found grids award the majestic Grand Prize Pot worth 10,000x!
Play Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme and fly to new heights!
Craig Asling, Director at Booming Games, said: “With Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme, we wanted to take our popular Hold and Win format to new heights, both literally and figuratively. This game delivers an exhilarating experience with powerful visuals, immersive gameplay and incredible win potential up to 10,000x. It’s a perfect example of how Booming Games continues to innovate while keeping players fully engaged.”
The post Booming Games Takes Players Sky-High with Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
-
Latest News7 days agoBoomerang Partners has announced a gift auction at their booth during the upcoming SiGMA Europe 2025 in Rome
-
Asia7 days agoNagaWorld Achieves Exceptional Great Place To Work Certification with Near-Perfect 95% Trust Index Score
-
Affiliate Industry7 days agoMelBet Partners to Bring UFC Champion Kamaru Usman to SiGMA Central Europe
-
Amusnet7 days agoWeek 44/2025 slot games releases
-
Central Europe7 days agoAward-Nominated EGT Digital Brings Sweet Spins, Smart Tech, and New Thrills to SiGMA Central Europe 2025
-
Belgian gaming regulator7 days agoBelgian Regulator Supports New Law for Tougher Player Protection and Increased Oversight
-
AUSTRAC7 days agoAUSTRAC Cracks Down on Cryptolink for Late Reporting
-
Google7 days agoYouTube’s strengthened approach to online gambling and graphic violence in gaming



