ESSA publishes 2017 suspicious betting figures

ESSA has announced figures detailing a total of 266 cases of suspicious betting being reported to relevant authorities in 2017, following a Q4 tally 114 alerts.

The international betting integrity body has published its annual integrity report for 2017, in which it lauds the year as its “most challenging and yet productive to date.”

Tennis and football continue to constitute the large part of the suspicious alerts during the course of the year, with 160 and 45 respectively, representing a total of 77%.

However, alerts covering all other sports saw a marked increase, spiking from 8% in 2016 and to 23% last year.

On a geographic basis, Europe continues to lead the location of where sporting events have generated alerts, with a total of 144, equating to 54%, generated. Asia, 50 alerts, continues to fill the second spot, with 19% in total.   

Khalid Ali, ESSA Secretary General, stated: “ The effectiveness of the association’s alert system, bolstered by an expanding membership, continues to be publicly recognised by key stakeholders. New information sharing agreements have also been put in place so that we can react more readily to changing trends and challenges to both our members’ businesses and our partners around the world.

“To complement this, the association is to engage in a total of four anti-match-fixing projects during 2018, part of our ongoing policy to participate in and promote integrity efforts on behalf of our members.

“There is a growing focus on betting integrity in existing and potential new markets and ESSA has sought to reflect this in its responses to policy consultations and in its wider engagement.

“The coming year is set to be another important period for the betting sector and integrity will again be high on the agenda. ESSA will continue to promote the adoption of proportionate and effective integrity policies and market regulations.

“We invite all operators committed to defending betting markets, sports and consumers from corruption to consider joining us in promoting those actions.”