Suspicious betting reports see five-fold increase
ESSA's 2014 Integrity Report shows reporting of suspicious betting activity in 2013 was up 500% year-on-year as it calls for greater cooperation to fight corruption
The number of suspicious betting alerts passed on for investigation to sports’ governing bodies rose five-fold in 2013, according to a report by sports integrity organisation European Sports Security Association (ESSA).
The report, published this morning, revealed 148 reports of ‘unusual’ betting activity had been made to ESSA by its 16 bookmaker members during 2013 “ a rise of 36% on the 109 reports recorded across the previous year.
Of those 148 cases, 30 were deemed to be ‘suspicious’ enough for the case to be handed to the relevant sport’s governing body for further investigation, a steep increase on the six cases similarly referred in 2012.
According to the report, tennis and football were subject to the most reports of unusual activity with a 44% and 38% share of total reports respectively.
However, speaking to eGaming Review, ESSA secretary general Khalid Ali said it was difficult to compare the recent figures to those recorded in 2012 due to a growth in betting markets and a 20% increase in ESSA members over the period.
“ESSA has grown its membership and our members are monitoring more markets and this proves that by expanding our network we have more eyes available to monitor the market,” Ali said.
Within the report, ESSA, whose members include the likes of bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power and Ladbrokes, called for the formation of cross-border intelligence units in order to step up anti-corruption efforts.
“There is a growing realisation that there is a need for greater cooperation between stakeholders and the establishment of betting intelligence units focused on protecting consumers, sports and the regulated betting market,” the report read.
“ESSA fully supports the establishment of proportionate and evidence-based transnational and cross-sector arrangements to address what is a global issue and continues to advance this approach with the IOC, European Commission and Council of Europe,” it added.
The also organisation listed five key areas it felt needed to be addressed if match-fixing was to be tackled in an effective manner, including greater player education, a more targeted approach to tackling organised crime and better sports governance.