In Q3 2024, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported 42 suspicious betting alerts to relevant authorities.
This represents a 54% decrease from 91 alerts in Q2 this year, as well as a 16% reduction compared to the revised Q3 total of 2023, which saw 50 alerts. In the quarter, football and tennis were the two sports with the most alerts (14), followed by esports (12), bowls and table tennis (one).
Europe remains a hotbed for suspicious betting alerts as the continent topped the findings with 14 suspicious betting alerts this quarter, which is down from 20 in Q2.
Africa reported five alerts, which all related to football in Burundi. Football was also a prominent sport in Asia and South America, which both reported four alerts. Lastly, North America reported three tennis-related alerts.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, commented: “The third quarter saw football and tennis register the highest number of alerts, albeit those numbers are in line with those seen in recent years and, in the case of tennis, represent a significant decrease compared to its peak.
“It should also be noted that esports alerts fell back to more normal levels in Q3, following an increase during Q1 and Q2 that was primarily the result of a linked case.”
As part of its announcement, the IBIA included information on football, a sport heavily impacted by suspicious betting. This segment outlined the main betting markets for football, which are: result (match), result (half time), Asian handicap, total goals over/under (match), total goals over/under (half time), correct score (match) and half time/full time.
These markets are used the most by corrupters, as they look to disguise themselves with other bettors. While football seems to be the most affected sport in every quarter, the integrity body reminded that corruption in all football markets accounted for 0.04% of matches offered from 2017-2023 on IBIA members’ markets.
Offering a solution, the IBIA noted that identification, investigation and sanctions should be the answer, not restriction or prohibition.
Ali concluded: “We continue to work closely with the integrity authorities for those sports, and indeed all sports, where we see suspicious betting, with the aim of detecting and sanctioning corrupt activity to protect sporting events and betting markets.”
Football has been a hot topic in the conversation of corruption, as of late. This year there have been several high-profile cases, including West Ham’s Lucas Paquetá, whose investigation recently heated up.
The Brazilian is facing charges of spot fixing, picking up yellow cards to benefit bettors known to the player, according to the Football Association’s charges against the Brazilian.
In a recent development, the media reported that he had failed to comply with the investigation, However, Paquetá responded to these allegations, stating: “I am frustrated and upset to have read recent misleading and inaccurate press articles, published in both England and Brazil, claiming to disclose information about my case.
“Some of that information is entirely false and appears designed to undermine my position. I am also concerned that, although they are false and misleading, these articles are clearly sourced from an individual close to the case.”
Paquetá’s case is ongoing and if found guilty, he could face a maximum lifetime ban from the sport.
