Sportradar Integrity Providers has reported a major 17% international discount in suspicious sports activities matches throughout 2024, marking the primary decline in years. Detailed within the firm’s newest integrity report, titled “Integrity in Motion 2024 International Evaluation & Traits,” the findings mirror improved monitoring and focused prevention efforts. This complete evaluation examined over 850,000 matches throughout 70 sports activities globally, uncovering 1,108 suspicious instances in comparison with 1,336 in 2023.
Europe, traditionally the area most affected by match-fixing, demonstrated probably the most notable progress. The variety of suspicious matches in Europe fell by 34%, from 668 in 2023 to 439 in 2024. Equally, Africa skilled a 36% discount, dropping from 108 to 69 suspicious matches throughout the identical interval. Regardless of these constructive tendencies, match-fixing stays a pervasive problem globally, underscoring the necessity for continued vigilance.
Different areas confirmed blended outcomes. South America reported a rise in suspicious matches, rising by 27 instances year-over-year. North America and Asia noticed slight upticks, every recording eight suspicious matches. These variations spotlight the uneven progress in combating match-fixing throughout completely different areas.
Soccer Stays Beneath Scrutiny
Soccer continued to dominate the match-fixing panorama, accounting for 65% of all suspicious instances in 2024. However, the game recorded a major enchancment, with suspicious matches lowering by 18%, from 881 in 2023 to 721 in 2024. Brazilian soccer, which has confronted intensive scrutiny lately, noticed a dramatic 48% drop, from 110 instances in 2023 to 57 in 2024. This decline is a promising signal for the game, however soccer stays probably the most monitored and susceptible to integrity points worldwide.
Different sports activities additionally skilled reductions in suspicious matches. Basketball ranked second globally, with 187 instances, a lower of 18 matches in comparison with 2023. Tennis adopted with 69 suspicious matches. Lesser-publicized sports activities, together with desk tennis, eSports, handball, and hockey, reported fewer incidents in comparison with the earlier 12 months.
Superior Detection and Ongoing Challenges
Sportradar’s Common Fraud Detection System (UFDS) performed a pivotal function in figuring out irregular betting patterns that signaled potential match-fixing. The system combines superior information analytics and synthetic intelligence to detect uncommon wagering actions. These findings are then reviewed by Sportradar’s integrity specialists, who verify suspicious actions earlier than initiating additional investigations.
In line with Andreas Krannich, Sportradar’s Govt Vice President of Integrity, Rights Safety & Regulatory Providers, the decline in suspicious matches is encouraging however requires sustained effort. “Whereas the notable discount in suspicious matches in 2024 provides us motive to be optimistic, it additionally alerts the necessity for continued vigilance and innovation, on condition that the quantity stays vital,” he mentioned.
Sportradar’s initiatives transcend detection. The corporate emphasizes training to forestall match-fixing and helps main sporting occasions just like the 2024 Summer season Olympics in Paris, UEFA EURO 2024, and the AFC Asian Cup. These efforts goal to strengthen integrity throughout the sports activities betting panorama whereas safeguarding athletes and followers.
A Persistent International Subject
Regardless of the progress made in 2024, match-fixing stays a worldwide problem. Sportradar’s findings underline the necessity for enhanced collaboration amongst stakeholders in sports activities and betting industries. “Our funding in innovation mixed with information insights into the betting business and continued training on integrity are on the forefront of conserving tempo with the ever-evolving international sports activities integrity panorama,” added Krannich.
Sportradar’s efforts over the previous twenty years have led to 900 sporting and prison sanctions, with 104 issued in 2024 alone. These achievements mirror the corporate’s dedication to safeguarding truthful play and fostering belief in sports activities worldwide.
