The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has published its Optimum Betting Market Study, examining sports wagering integrity across different markets.

In an update on the group’s Linkedin page, the IBIA discussed the Optimum survey, produced in collaboration with H2 Gambling Capital, with the aim of examining a range of different regulatory models for the international betting industry and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of markets investigated.

The group chose 20 jurisdictions to investigate, spanning six continents and covering various licencing models, with consideration to the necessity for and effectiveness of betting product restrictions along with the cost of match-fixing to the regulated betting sector globally.

Support for the project has been received from some of the IBIA’s core betting partner associations, including the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC), Netherlands Online Gambling Association (NOGA), the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling (BOS), the Spanish Online Gambling Trade Association (Jdigital) and the European Gaming and Betting Association (EGBA).

“The study and its contents can rightly be justified as unprecedented,” said Khalid Ali, IBIA CEO. “H2 Gambling Capital has conducted a detailed examination of product data covering $137bn in turnover, along with its own market data. 

“The result is a report that provides a never seen before insight into global consumer demand, integrity risks and regulatory practices. In doing so, it reveals the core facets of a successful regulatory framework for betting. 

“IBIA hopes that these evidenced-based findings will assist the important ongoing global betting and integrity debate.”

In a video released by the IBIA, the organisation explained how it’s betting integrity monitoring system works.

The group uses a monitoring and alert platform, gathering ‘detailed intelligence’ on betting activity, and the leveraging of a sophisticated risk management system.

All customer transactions are monitored in real time, and member organisations share alerts to other members when suspicious activity is detected, which is subsequently analysed by the IBIA using its own ‘risk-based criteria’ to determine whether an investigation should continue.

“Our members are committed to assisting with the fight against betting related corruption, and will provide further information to the relevant authorities to assist with their investigation,” the IBIA detailed.

“Sport governing bodies and gambling regulators are actively encouraged to request that the betting markets of potentially suspicious events be reviewed by us and our members.

“This information sharing approach has led to neumous convictions following investigations from the relevant authorities, as well as preventing our members from being defrauded.”

The release of the Optimum study follows the Q1 2021 IBIA update, identifying tennis, esports and football as the three sectors most at risk from integrity related threats.

Source – International Betting Integrity Association Linkedin