Brazil Secures Sports Betting Integrity Deals with IBIA and Sportradar

In preparation for the launch of its regulated sports betting market in January 2024, Brazil has entered into significant partnerships with Sportradar and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). These agreements, led by the Secretariat of Prizes and Betting (SPA), aim to tackle match-fixing and other integrity issues, fostering a secure betting environment within Brazil’s emerging market.

Partnership with IBIA to Enhance Betting Transparency

The cooperation agreement between Brazil’s Ministry of Finance and IBIA focuses on monitoring and sharing data on suspicious betting activities tied to Brazilian sports. This collaboration will allow both parties to address concerns proactively, aiming to detect and investigate potential threats to the market’s integrity. As part of the deal, IBIA will contribute its monitoring expertise, delivering comprehensive data on questionable betting activities to Brazilian authorities.

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, emphasized the importance of cooperation, stating:“IBIA is delighted to have reached this agreement with the Brazilian Ministry of Finance and welcomes the government’s increased focus on creating a robust sports betting integrity ecosystem to tackle match-fixing. Collaboration and information sharing are key to the success of this ecosystem.”

Ali further highlighted that under this partnership, IBIA will share customer data, exclusively accessible to IBIA and its , with the Ministry of Finance to investigative efforts.

The requirement in Brazil’s regulatory framework for sports betting operators to an independent integrity body is expected to strengthen IBIA’s ability to oversee and maintain transparency within the sports betting market. The regulation also aligns with projections from H2 Gambling Capital, which anticipates that IBIA’s influence could extend to more than 70% of Brazil’s online gambling sector.

Sportradar’s Role in Monitoring and Preventing Match-Fixing

In a parallel initiative, the Ministry of Finance formalized a Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) with Sportradar. This collaboration, also led by the SPA, will Brazil’s goal of ensuring sports betting market integrity by focusing on match-fixing prevention. Through this agreement, Sportradar will provide insights and identify suspicious betting patterns, sharing intelligence with the Ministry to help address potential threats.

The agreement underscores Sportradar’s commitment to integrity, with its Manager for Integrity Partnerships in Brazil, Felippe Marchetti, remarking, “The g of the ACT is a proud occasion for Sportradar, and we appreciate the trust shown by the Brazilian Ministry of Finance in the expertise of Sportradar’s Integrity Services division.” Marchetti emphasized that the agreement demonstrates a shared commitment to establishing a trustworthy and regulated sports betting industry in Brazil.

Sportradar’s Integrity Services division will also train SPA staff to improve their knowledge of match-fixing risks.

This training comes at a crucial time, as two Brazilian football players currently face investigations for alleged spot-fixing in local matches. By providing continuous education, Sportradar aims to build robust defenses against such risks within Brazil’s sports betting landscape.

A recent study, The Availability of Sports Betting Products: An Economic and Integrity Analysis, projects that Brazil’s new sports betting regulations could drive $34 billion in betting turnover by 2028. With this expected growth comes a heightened focus on securing market integrity and deterring any form of manipulation within sports.

Régis Dudena, Brazil’s Secretary of Prizes and Betting, highlighted the importance of these partnerships with Sportradar and IBIA. He stated, “Cooperation with IBIA will add to SPA’s work in combating the manipulation of sporting events. And together we will mitigate this problem on a global scale.” Dudena also expressed that Sportradar’s involvement would be essential for preventing manipulation and promoting a trustworthy market.

In recent months, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has voiced concerns over the potential social risks of an expanding gambling market. Silva recently advocated for a federal gambling policy aimed at protecting Bolsa Família beneficiaries from financial risks linked to gambling addiction. His emphasis on consumer protection resonates with the Ministry’s broader objective of ensuring a responsible and well-regulated sports betting environment in Brazil.

Source:

”Sportradar and IBIA sign integrity agreements with Brazilian Ministry of Finance”, gamblinginsider.com, October 29, 2024.