Genius Sports is lending its sports data and technology services to the global fight against match-fixing and sports corruption via its latest partnership.
The London-based firm, active in some of the world’s biggest sports markets, has partnered with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
Under the agreement, Genius and the IBIA have committed to information sharing on suspicious betting, utilising respective monitoring and intelligence platforms.
Simon Martyn, Director of Integrity and Rights Enforcement at Genius Sports, said: “Cooperation and the sharing of information are vital pillars to safeguarding the global sports industry from the threats of match-fixing and betting-related corruption.
“Our partnership with IBIA will provide us and our partners with greater transparency over global betting patterns, helping to identify, manage and prevent any integrity threats.”
Further caveats of the agreement include access to technological resources and integrity reports and the potential for collaboration on global anti-match fixing activities.
The deal marks an enhancement of Genius’ sports integrity efforts, one of several areas of sports technology and data leveraging the firm is active in. Its sports integrity partners thus far have included the NFL, Premier League, PGA TOUR and German Football League (DFB).
For the IBIA, the deal further expands its membership – with Genius becoming an associate member, sitting alongside various operators and sports authorities – and its operational scope.
The association routinely monitors suspicious betting activity, with football and tennis repeatedly flagged as the most targeted markets. With the expansion of the global betting industry in recent years, such as in the US and soon in Brazil, the organisation’s international reach has also broadened.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, commented: “I am delighted that we have reached this important agreement with Genius Sports. It brings together two leading global players in the sports technology and betting integrity environments with a clear focus on protecting sporting events from betting-related corruption.
“The addition of Genius Sports as an Associate member of IBIA is particularly welcome given the breadth of its sporting and integrity relationships across North and South America, which will assist IBIA’s operational expansion across those regions.”
