The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has called on Latin American decision-makers to increase their focus on creating a robust sports betting integrity ecosystem to combat match-fixing.
The new Brazilian regulatory framework, which includes the requirement that licensed betting operators join an independent integrity monitoring body, provides a model that should be replicated across the region.
IBIA sees Brazil in a leadership position in Latin America
The impact of match fixing on the Brazilian betting market and on sport continues to be an issue of significant importance. IBIA therefore welcomes the recent publication of Ordinance 827/2024 and its integrity reporting requirements as a vital step towards addressing any integrity concerns.
Brazil is ready to become a leader in integrity in Latin America, which has led IBIA to report 127 cases of suspicious betting to the region’s competent authorities in the last five years.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “The Ordinance’s stipulation that operators in Brazil must join an independent sports integrity monitoring body is helping to drive growth in IBIA membership.
Our priorities are to further strengthen our monitoring and alert network and expand our information sharing agreements. Not only with partner organizations in Brazil, but throughout the Latin American region.”
The new regulatory regime has made Brazil an attractive market for licensed online betting operators. The country is projected to reach US$34 billion in sports betting business volume by 2028, according to a recent study by H2 Gambling Capital.
Entity supports the repression of game manipulation
IBIA is already responsible for more than 60% of the online gambling market in Brazil. But this number continues to grow and, recently, it entered into an integrity, information sharing and combating match manipulation agreement with Genius Sports.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, stated: “With regulation comes renewed responsibility to protect the sports betting market, sports and consumers against match-fixing.
Brazil has set a high standard of integrity, but there is still much work to be done in the region. Our focus must be on creating a robust integrity in sports betting across the entire market.
Therefore, IBIA will work with its growing Latin American network to increase monitoring and strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders.”
About IBIA
IBIA is a non-profit body. The entity has no conflicts with the provision of commercial services to other sectors and is managed by operators for operators.
The aim is to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing.
IBIA offers a free integrity monitoring and alerting service to gambling regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies. Thus, it allows all parties to cooperate in investigating, prosecuting, and deterring match-fixing related to sports betting.
IBIA’s monitoring and warning network is the largest and most effective of its kind. Additionally, it can monitor and analyze $300 billion in global betting transactions per year.
