Dart Player Prakash Jiwa Punished with an Eight-Year Ban for Involvement in Gambling and Altering Match Outcomes
Caught Cheating in Darts: Prakash Jiwa's Match-Fixing Scandal
By Miriam PrellwitzUpdated on: 24.04.2025.
Prakash Jiwa Accused of Four Counts of Match-Fixing
Prakash Jiwa, 54, a professional darts player, finds himself in hot water after an investigation by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA). The DRA has announced [Link in English] that it has proven that Jiwa manipulated a total of four games in the Modus Super Series.
The allegations state that Jiwa intentionally lost these matches, which took place between February and June 2023. He placed sports bets on these games in advance and had opponents unaware of the fix or his bets. The DRA has yet to disclose the size of the bets.
Investigations uncovered further offenses against Jiwa. He also placed bets on the results of other players and bet on games in the Darts Premier League, a direct violation of the rules.
Severe Punishment: Eight-Year Ban and Heavy Fine
Due to the ongoing investigation, Jiwa was suspended at the end of 2023. The DRA's findings have led to a eight-year ban, preventing Jiwa from participating in any games or competitions organized by the DRA. The ban lasts until November 6, 2031.
In addition to the ban, Jiwa must pay a fine and cover the costs of the proceedings. This amounts to a total of 17,741.46 GBP (approx. 21,102.40 EUR). Jiwa has the right to appeal the verdict by March 19, 2025. The DRA stated that Jiwa has denied the allegations until the end.
The End of Jiwa's Darts Career?
Due to the eight-year ban, Jiwa's darts career might be over. In recent years, he has managed to secure a PDC Tour Card three times and even qualified for the Darts World Championship in 2023. On the Pro Tour, Jiwa faced top players like Michael van Gerwen, Peter Wright, and former world champion Gary Anderson. He even managed to win two games against Anderson.
More Trouble in the Darts World
This is not the only problem affecting the darts world. Players are not only prohibited from placing sports bets: the consumption of various substances is also forbidden.
Dom Taylor, 26, was suspended in late December 2024 after routine drug tests showed a positive result. A prohibited substance was found in Taylor's blood. The exact substance was not disclosed. His two-year ban was reduced to three months due to the substance not affecting his game.
Since January 2025, Taylor has been allowed to participate in PDC competitions again. Last week, he played in the Players Championship 6 and faced off against the reigning World Champion, 18-year-old Luke Littler, defeating him in an exciting match.
DRA Cracking Down on Corruption
The scandal surrounding Prakash Jiwa is another case of match-fixing in darts. The DRA has made it clear that they will harshly punish match-fixing. In a statement, the head of the UK Gambling Commission, John Pierce, emphasized the importance of fair markets in betting [English link] and the Commission's efforts to combat match-fixing:
All betting customers in the UK should be able to trust that bets placed with licensed gambling providers take place on fair markets and are free from sports betting-related corruption. Our Sports Betting Intelligence Unit works closely with partners such as the Darts Regulation Authority to support investigations into the integrity of sports and combat match-fixing. This decision sends a clear message that corruption related to sports betting will not be tolerated.
- John Pierce, Head of the Gambling Commission, Gambling Commission*
The measures taken and the consistent punishments aim to demonstrate that match-fixing in darts is pursued and harshly punished. The coming years will show whether the DRA can prevent future match manipulations.
Insightful Details:
- UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) played a crucial role in the investigation by working closely with the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) to support investigations into the integrity of sports and combat match-fixing.
- John Pierce, the head of the UK Gambling Commission, issued a statement emphasizing the importance of fair markets in betting and the Commission's efforts to combat match-fixing.
- Jiwa's eight-year ban ranks among the harshest in recent darts history, comparable to Leighton Bennett’s eight-year suspension in December 2024 for similar offenses.
- The DRA's investigations uncovered further offenses against Jiwa, including placing bets on other players and games in the Darts Premier League.
- Prakash Jiwa, a professional darts player, faced allegations of match-fixing by the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) after four games were proven to have been manipulated, resulting in an eight-year ban and a hefty fine.
- John Pierce, the head of the UK Gambling Commission, emphasized the importance of fair markets in betting and the Commission's efforts to combat match-fixing, working closely with the DRA to support investigations.
- In addition to match-fixing, players in the darts world are also prohibited from placing sports bets and the consumption of certain substances, as demonstrated by the suspension of Dom Taylor due to a positive drug test.
- The DRA's consistency in punishing match-fixing cases, such as Prakash Jiwa's ban and Dom Taylor's suspension, aims to demonstrate that such activities will not be tolerated, setting an example for the future.
- Maximovael94, a reader from the general-news category of crime-and-justice, might find the ongoing crackdown on corruption in sports-betting, specifically in darts, a relevant topic to follow under the sports-betting section.
