MGA attends match-fixing conference ahead of FIFA World Cup

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) was a participant in an industry meeting hosted by the Council of Europe and UEFA, which brought together other prominent law enforcement agencies such as INTERPOL and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The agencies gathered together to discuss an important matter ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and specifically the rising tide of match-fixing attempts that are taking place over social media, among other channels.

The age of digitalization and subsequent lockdowns have allowed many criminals to operate in relative safety and anonymity, reaching out to athletes from all over the world, without ever exposing their identities and making it even harder to prove wrongdoing in the end. During the "Sports Competitions Manipulation in the digital era: better addressing it together," conference participants were introduced to the main challenges that sports faced today.

The conference attendees were told that in order to tackle match-fixing, the knowledge, expertise, and data of all stakeholders would be needed. MGA Head of Financial Crime Compliance Antonio Abdilla Zerafa noted that the regulator has been known for its willingness to assist and collaborate with authorities in tackling such crimes.

According to Zerafa, the exchange of information and knowledge was key to rapidly addressing the growing problem of match-fixing. There have been efforts on both a national and international level, the conference attendees heard, with local regulators seeking to weed out bad practices and raise awareness for match-fixing among sports fans, athletes, and businesses that accept wagers.

Organizations such as IBIA already reunite hundreds of operators who exchange information about any suspicious betting patterns, for example. Private companies such as Sportradar have sounded the alarm over the issue in detailed breakdown and data-backed reports. Back in March, Sportradar commented that while global sports betting turnover is growing exponentially so are match-fixing attempts.

The only difference now is that stakeholders are able to detect it quicker and track it, as well take the appropriate response. According to a report compiled by Sportradar, criminals were able to generate €165m in profit from match-fixing in 2021 alone.

Meanwhile, the conference seems to have had the desired effects. "In this particular conference, it was nice to see social media platforms also being welcomed into the discussion," Zerafa noted, adding that social media is continuing to play an increasingly important role in the infrastructure of match-fixers.

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