In a positive turn of events, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported a notable decrease in suspicious betting alerts in 2021 compared to the previous year. This decline, which reflects a 13% reduction from 2020 figures, indicates potential improvements in sports integrity efforts. The IBIA’s alerts spanned various sports across 49 countries, offering insights into the state of sports betting integrity.
Key Highlights:
Alert Decrease: The overall number of suspicious betting alerts in 2021 dropped to 235, down from 270 in 2020, representing a 13% reduction. This decline suggests a positive trend in maintaining the integrity of sports betting.
Sport-Specific Insights:
Tennis remained the sport with the highest number of alerts, recording 80 cases in 2021, down from 98 in 2020.
Football experienced an 8% increase in alerts, with a total of 66 cases.
Other sports contributing to alerts included table tennis (40), esports (30), basketball (7), and volleyball (6).
A single alert each was recorded for ice hockey, beach volleyball, squash, horseracing, futsal, cricket, and handball.
Regional Distribution:
Europe accounted for half of all alerts, with 118 coming from the continent. Russia reported the highest number of alerts (27) among all countries.
Asia recorded 43 alerts, while Africa, South America, and North America reported 18, 17, and 10 alerts, respectively.
North America experienced a 54% decrease in alerts compared to 2020.
Positive Impact: The IBIA alerts led to 11 successful sanctions in the sporting or criminal domain during 2021. These actions demonstrate the tangible impact of vigilance in preserving sports integrity.
IBIA’s Perspective:
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, expressed relief over the declining trend in alerts, signaling a potential return to pre-COVID-19 levels. He also acknowledged ongoing challenges in the sector, particularly concerning private sports events and the need to establish integrity protocols comparable to traditional sports bodies. IBIA is actively collaborating with stakeholders to enhance integrity provisions.
The reduced number of suspicious betting alerts in 2021 compared to the previous year signifies progress in safeguarding the integrity of sports betting. This positive trend suggests that ongoing efforts by organizations like IBIA and sports stakeholders are having a meaningful impact in curbing potential misconduct. While challenges persist, the commitment to upholding sports integrity remains strong, reflecting the collective dedication to fair and transparent sports betting practices.