A global sports integrity partnership deal has been inked by Genius Sports and the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) to bolster anti-match fixing endeavors.
Genius Sports will become an associate member of the IBIA. The agreement will entail the sharing of information on sports integrity between Genius Sports and IBIA, forming a formidable alliance.
This collaboration will grant the IBIA access to Genius Sports’ technological resources and integrity reports. It will also enhance the likelihood of global collaboration to combat match fixing.
Simon Martin, Genius Sports’ Chief Integrity and Rights Officer, believes that working together is crucial to fighting match fixing.
Martin stated: “Our partnership with IBIA will provide us and our partners with enhanced global betting pattern transparency, aiding in the identification, management, and prevention of any integrity threats.”
Khalid Ali, IBIA CEO, added: “I am thrilled that we have reached this significant agreement with Genius Sports. It unites two global leaders in sports technology and betting integrity, bound by our commitment to safeguarding sport from betting-related corruption.”
Genius Sports’ agreement strengthens the IBIA’s influence in South America.
Ali highlighted that Genius’s activities in North and South America are vital for IBIA’s growth in these areas.
“Genius Sports’s addition to IBIA as an associate member is particularly encouraging as it has extensive connections in the sports and integrity sector in North and South America, which will aid IBIA’s operations to expand in these regions,” he stated.
Brazil is currently facing a serious match-fixing controversy. Botafogo Football Club owner John Textor has accused Palmeiras of manipulating game outcomes. These allegations led to the Brazilian Congress establishing a Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) to examine match-fixing claims in Brazil.
Last week, Palmeiras president Leila Pereira refuted Textor’s accusations at the CPI hearing and stated that if the American businessman cannot provide proof to support his claims, he should be prohibited from participating in Brazilian football.
Senator Jorge Kajuru, the CPI chair, said that if Textor “lacks evidence,” he should be expelled from Brazil.
IBIA reported a rise in the number of questionable alerts in the first quarter.
IBIA’s first-quarter integrity report revealed that it received 56 suspicious betting alerts in the first three months of 2024.
This represents a 64.7% increase from the preceding quarter and a 12% increase from the revised 50 alerts in the first three months of 2023.
Soccer and tennis alone accounted for 38 alerts, representing 67.9% of all notifications in the first quarter.
The IBIAs warning system played a key role in examining and penalizing 21 sportspeople, administrators, and organizations in 2023. This represents a 6-point rise from the 15 sanctions imposed in 2022.
Genius has upgraded its forecast for 2024, citing a more positive-than-anticipated start to the year, following the release of its first-quarter financial figures.
Genius reported first-quarter group earnings of $120 million (£94.1 million/€111.6 million), a 23.1% increase year-over-year. This figure also surpassed previous expectations by 2.5%.
Genius’s betting technology, content, and services division saw a 14% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching $73.9 million. Additionally, media technology, content, and services revenue surged by 63% to $35.5 million.
In light of the robust first-quarter performance, Genius has increased its group revenue target from $480 million to $500 million, while also projecting adjusted EBITDA to reach $82 million, a rise from its previous target of $75 million.
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