IBIA Reports Increase in Suspicious Betting Alerts for 2024
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has released its 2024 sports betting integrity report. While the report indicates a rise in suspicious betting alerts, the overall integrity position remains consistent with previous years. Therefore, the IBIA continues its efforts to combat corruption.
Alerts Increase but Remain Below Average
The report highlights that the total number of suspicious betting alerts reported in 2024 reached 219.
This represents a 17% increase compared to the revised 2023 figure of 187 alerts.
However, the 2024 figure remains 11% below the annual average of 245 alerts recorded during 2020-23.
Football and Tennis Dominate Suspicious Activity
In 2024, suspicious betting alerts spanned 12 sports across 53 countries.
Specifically, Czechia reported the most alerts with 19, followed by Türkiye with 11. Furthermore, football and tennis led in reported cases, with 75 and 58 alerts respectively. Together, they accounted for 61% of all alerts.
Geographical Shift in Alerts
A geographical shift in suspicious betting on sporting events occurred. For example, alerts in Europe decreased from 113 in 2023 to 80 in 2024.
Conversely, alerts in Asia increased from 17 to 40, and Africa’s increased from 16 to 28. IBIA is monitoring these trends to determine if they are anomalies or a growing trend.
Thus, they can prepare appropriate responses.
Data Leads to Sanctions
IBIA data played a key role in sporting investigations. These investigations led to 33 matches being deemed corrupted.
Moreover, they also led to 17 sanctions against clubs, players, and officials for betting violations.
IBIA’s Monitoring Network
IBIA uses suspicious betting activity data from its global monitoring network. This network covers over $300bn in betting turnover annually.
Consequently, it helps sports, regulators, policymakers, and law enforcement investigate and prosecute criminals.
IBIA added functionality to its monitoring platform in 2024. This enhanced its ability to detect and report suspicious activity on its members’ betting markets.
Executive Comments on Report
Khalid Ali, CEO at IBIA, said:
“The integrity position remains relatively consistent with previous years, with the focus of suspicious betting remaining primarily on football and tennis. A geographical shift away from European sporting events was observed, but it is too early to determine if this is an ongoing trend. As with all potentially corrupt activity, IBIA is analysing the data and working with its members and global integrity network to implement targeted countermeasures. IBIA’s growing membership are resolute in their commitment to identifying, disrupting, and preventing corrupt sports betting activity and to working with stakeholders.”
