IBIA reports 90 alerts of suspicious betting in Q2 2024, driven by eSports case

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported 90 alerts of suspicious betting to the relevant authorities in the second quarter (Q2) of 2024. The Q2 2024 total is 3% less than the revised figure of 93 alerts in Q1 2024, but marks an increase of 80% when compared to the Q2 2023 total of 50 alerts.

The 90 incidents of suspicious betting in Q2 concerned 8 sports, across 25 countries and 5 continents. Three sports (eSports, football, table tennis) accounted for 84% of all alerts in Q2. eSports provided around 50% of the Q2 total; however, the majority of those alerts concern a single linked case, which has also contributed to a revised Q1 figure of 43.

The 19 alerts on sporting events in Europe in Q2 2024 is an increase of 15 on the 4 alerts in Q1, but a decrease on the 31 cases in Q2 2023. As for individual countries, Poland had the highest number of country-specific alerts with 6 cases.

Khalid Ali, IBIA CEO, said: "An increase in the Q2 and revised Q1 alerts compared to previous quarters is primarily related to a linked case in eSports. The situation is being monitored closely and heightened vigilance advocated as we seek to work with stakeholders to investigate."

"While the increase in alerts may understandably draw attention, it should be noted that eSports saw a significant reduction in annual alerts across IBIA's membership in 2023. The case again highlights the importance and effectiveness of customer account monitoring in the detection of suspicious betting and the protection of sporting events, consumers and regulated betting markets."

The Q2 integrity report also includes a focus on Brazil ahead of the opening of the market to licensed operators, which is expected to see $34bn in betting turnover onshore, creating $2.8 billion in taxable revenue by 2028.

IBIA has also recently called for other Latin American jurisdictions to adopt the Brazilian regulatory framework and integrity provisions, which include a requirement that licensed sports betting operators should join an independent integrity monitoring body.

IBIA is a not-for-profit integrity monitoring body that seeks to protect regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. IBIA's global monitoring network is described as a "highly effective" anti-corruption tool, detecting and reporting suspicious activity in regulated betting markets.

IBIA and its membership monitor over $300 billion per annum in betting turnover (handle) across more than 125 sports betting brands globally, making IBIA the largest betting integrity monitor of its type in the world.