The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported a total of 50 suspicious betting alerts in the third quarter of 2023, the same amount as in the previous quarter. This brings the total number of alerts for the first three quarters of 2023 to 148. While this may seem concerning, it is important to note that there has been a significant decrease compared to the same period in 2022. The Q3 2023 alerts represent a 41 percent decrease from the Q3 2022 total of 85 alerts.
Soccer and tennis were the primary sports of concern, accounting for 56 percent of all alerts in Q3 2023. Tennis emerged as the sport with the highest number of alerts, with 15 reported cases. This represents a 7 percent increase from the previous quarter and a significant 55 percent decrease compared to Q3 2022. Soccer, on the other hand, accounted for 13 alerts, reflecting a 32 percent decrease from the previous quarter’s 19 cases.
The 50 incidents of suspicious betting in Q3 2023 were spread across eight sports, 21 countries and five continents. Europe had the highest number of alerts, making up 60 percent of the total reported, followed by South America with 14 percent of the alerts.
IBIA members, consisting of over 125 sports betting brands, identified the 50 suspicious betting alerts. These members collectively generate over $137 billion in betting turnover per annum, solidifying IBIA’s position as the largest integrity monitor in the world. The association’s extensive reach and influence allow for a comprehensive analysis of suspicious betting activities across various sports and regions.
Tennis has consistently been a focus in the battle against match-fixing and corruption in sports. The Q3 2023 report highlights tennis as a major contributory factor in the overall decrease in suspicious betting alerts. The sport had the highest number of alerts, indicating the ongoing efforts to identify and prevent fraudulent activities within tennis. IBIA’s collaboration with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) further strengthens the commitment to combat corruption in the sport.
During the third quarter, IBIA and ITIA co-hosted a best practice integrity seminar in New York. This collaborative event brought together premier sports and betting operators in the U.S. to discuss and implement strategies to maintain integrity in sports. The cooperative approach between IBIA and ITIA underscores the importance of cross-sector partnerships in combating corruption and ensuring fair play.
The Q3 integrity report includes a detailed analysis of tennis alerts. In 2023, the average number of tennis cases per quarter stood at 13, a significant decrease from the average of 26 per quarter in 2022 and 20 per quarter in 2021. This downward trend indicates the effectiveness of the measures taken to tackle match-fixing and betting-related corruption in tennis. The report’s analysis provides valuable insights into the progress made and areas for continued vigilance.
In Q2 2023, three out of the 50 reported alerts were related to women-only events, while 43 were for men-only events. The report also highlighted one alert related to an animal sporting event, specifically greyhound racing. IBIA recently released a groundbreaking study that examines the size and characteristics of the women’s sports betting market and assesses the potential vulnerability of women’s sports to match-fixing. This research provides valuable insights into an often overlooked aspect of the sports betting industry.
