The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) recorded 50 suspicious betting alerts in the second quarter, with football again the main area of concern.
The Q2 total was lower than the 88 alerts reported in the same quarter last year, but higher than 48 in Q1 2023. IBIA initially reported 40 reports for the first quarter, although this was later revised upwards.
Football generated the most alerts for the second consecutive quarter, with 19 representing 38% of the Q1 total.
IBIA also noted 14 alerts for tennis, eight for table tennis and five for darts. In addition, there was one alert each for boxing, bowls, esports and badminton.
34 alerts in Europe
In terms of geography, Europe was by far the main source of suspicious betting alerts, with 34 across the continent.
Of the European alerts, tennis was the primary source with 11, followed by table tennis and football with eight each. Darts competitions were responsible for five, then one each for badminton, boxing and bowls.
The highest proportion of alerts – nine – came from the UK. Estonia followed with six, then the Czech Republic with five and Italy four. Alerts were also reported across Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Spain.
Football alerts dominate in Africa
Elsewhere, seven alerts were registered in Africa, all of which were related to football. Four alerts came from the Ivory Coast, two Tunisia and one Algeria.
South America generated six alerts, with four football alerts in Brazil and two tennis cases in Chile. In addition, North America noted just two alerts, one for football in Cuba and the other for tennis in the Dominican Republic.
IBIA added that a solitary esports alert could not be allocated to a certain country and it was not clear when the event was hosted.
Growing network of members
The association was able to expand its network in Q2. It added Olybet, the sports betting brand of Olympic Entertainment Group (OEG), as a member in June.
Meanwhile, IBIA entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Portuguese Online Betting and Gambling Association (APAJO). IBIA and APAJO will work together on issues related to betting and sports integrity, as well as a safe and sustainable online betting.
In addition, IBIA partnered the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR) to develop anti-match fixing enforcements in Brazil. This came shortly after IBIA set out plans to expand its activities in the country.
