Sportradar: "Our Central Regulatory Platform provides regulators with the technology needed to get things right from day one"

The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2024, held in Las Vegas, served as one of the world’s premier industry gatherings earlier last month, attracting leaders, regulators, and innovators from across the gaming sector.

Among the experts present at the show was Tom Mace, SVP of Regulatory Services at Sportradar, who engaged in discussions around regulation, integrity, and technology solutions tailored for the evolving global market.

In an exclusive interview with Yogonet, Mace provided insights into Sportradar’s regulatory services division, its recently launched Central Regulatory Platform (CRP), and the company’s application of AI in tackling industry challenges.

Did you find opportunities to discuss regulation and integrity at G2E?

Absolutely. G2E is one of the major global events for the industry, and that's why I traveled from London to be there. There are vast opportunities to engage with regulators, legislators, customers, partners, and collaborators. It's been a fantastic event filled with inspiring discussions, making it a worthwhile investment for us.

In my role at Sportradar, launching our Regulatory Services division has been a focal point, as it centers on providing technology solutions to support regulatory authorities. There's significant demand and interest in tools that can enhance regulatory capabilities, particularly around responsible gaming.

We’ve had many discussions about how regulators can use more data-driven tools to enhance their oversight and effectiveness, which is central to what our regulatory services offer.

Can you give us an overview of your work with Sportradar’s Regulatory Services division, including your role and responsibilities?

I've been with Sportradar for over 14 years, mostly in our Integrity Services unit. I was instrumental in establishing our Fraud Detection System, which analyzes betting data and produces evidential reports to support sports governing bodies and law enforcement in detecting and addressing match-fixing and corruption. Through this work, we began collaborating with regulatory bodies, especially those focused on integrity.

The concept of our Regulatory Services division emerged from these interactions. We saw an opportunity to apply our expertise in managing large betting datasets, leveraging AI, and developing technology solutions to support regulators globally. The Regulatory Services division was launched almost a year ago, with the aim of using technology and data to provide regulators with the tools they need.

The Central Regulatory Platform seems to be the core of your offerings. Can you tell us more about this product?

Yes, the CRP is our flagship product. It functions as a central monitoring system for regulators, designed to ingest detailed transactional betting data from operators or existing data sets. The platform can process billions of transactions per month, offering real-time, 24/7 visibility into the betting data. This is exactly what regulators are asking for, as they often struggle with fragmented, inconsistent access to data and lack the necessary technology to streamline their work.

The CRP is a one-stop platform that offers tools for tax calculation, match-fixing detection using our Fraud Detection System, and built-in dashboards to streamline regulatory processes. It provides regulators with comprehensive visibility to supervise and regulate gaming markets more effectively.

Responsible gaming has been a prominent topic at G2E. How does the CRP address this issue?

Responsible gaming is indeed a major concern globally, and it’s been a central focus of the discussions at the show. The CRP addresses this by offering a holistic solution based on detailed transactional data. The platform includes centralized self-exclusion capabilities and advanced monitoring tools.

It's designed to be proactive, allowing regulators to identify and manage at-risk gambling behaviors effectively. This comprehensive approach ensures regulators have the tools they need to monitor and implement measures related to responsible gaming, integrity, anti-money laundering, and other critical areas.

Does the Central Regulatory Platform utilize artificial intelligence, given its increasing presence in the gaming industry?

Absolutely. Sportradar has invested heavily in AI technology over the last ten years, integrating it into various products. AI is central to the CRP, enabling us to derive valuable insights from the data. For instance, we use AI-driven monitoring tools to detect at-risk gambling behaviors, giving regulators a complete view of the market and helping them understand where potential risks lie.

Additionally, the CRP integrates our existing AI-powered match-fixing detection models, which have identified nearly 10,000 suspicious matches globally over the past decade. AI is essential in enhancing the platform's capabilities and supporting regulators with the most advanced tools available.

How do the challenges regulators face differ across various regions, and what are the specific opportunities you see in markets like Brazil as they start to regulate?

Each market is distinct, with its own characteristics, betting behaviors, and sports preferences. The CRP is relevant across all markets, but the needs and risks vary. Established markets, like the UK, have different priorities compared to emerging ones like Brazil, which is in the early stages of regulation.

Brazil, in particular, presents a massive opportunity—it’s set to become one of the world’s top five gambling markets due to its population size and passion for sports. However, challenges like integrity issues and match-fixing are already in the spotlight there, similar to other regions we monitor.

Responsible gaming is also becoming a priority in Brazil. It’s crucial for markets like Brazil to establish the right framework, technology infrastructure, and tools from the start to ensure sustainable growth. Our CRP provides regulators with the technology needed to get things right from day one, which is vital for long-term success. If these elements aren’t implemented properly early on, it becomes much harder to correct things later.