IBIA Reports Surge in Suspicious Betting Activity in eSports, Global Alerts Spike in 2Q

The International Betting Integrity Association announded an 80% year-over-year increase as 90 suspicious alerts were reported in eight sports across 25 countries in this week’s Q2 release. 

48 of the reported alerts came from eSports, primarily stemming from a single case that included 68 counts of suspicious betting activity on a series of eSoccer matches between Q1 and Q2. 

Detection and protection 

The IBIA, which works with sports leagues including FIFA, UEFA, ITIA, more than 125 sports betting brands, and gaming regulators to monitor suspicious activity, said alerts were down 3% from the first quarter. 

Traditional soccer accounted for 16 of the total Q2 alerts while 12 cases were reported in table tennis. Combined with eSports, those three sports made up 84% of the alerts. 

“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,” Ali said.

Tennis had the next highest number of alerts with nine. Badminton had two reported alerts, while handball, padel, and boxing had one each.

Framework and regulation 

Europe led all continents with 19 alerts, six of which stemmed from Polish table tennis. Europe’s Q2 cases were up from four alerts in Q1 but down 39% year-over-year.

Eleven alerts came from Africa. South America finished with five, while four came from Asia and three from North America.  

The Q2 release included a study on Brazil, which will offer legalized, regulated gaming beginning in 2024, and found that the nation is expected to turn over $34 billion from offshore betting and create $2.8 billion in tax revenue by 2028. 

IBIA also asked other Latin American markets to use similar sports betting frameworks and regulations as Brazil.