International Gambling Operations Offer Wagers on German Amateur Football Matches, Potentially Endangering Fair Play
In the world of amateur football leagues, players often receive only small allowances, but their games are attracting the attention of international sports betting platforms. A recent report by the Bremen regional magazine buten un binnen suggests that betting in Bremen amateur football and match manipulations are not exceptions [2].
One club that has been repeatedly in the focus of investigations is BSC Hastedt. A bet of 10,000 euros was placed on a game of BSC Hastedt in Denmark, which the team actually lost 0:2 [1]. Sports betting was possible on over 40% of the Bremen League's games last season, with bettors able to bet on the final result, the halftime score, or the goal scorers [1].
The Interstate Gambling Treaty (ISTG) in Germany bans betting on amateur football to reduce addiction risks and avoid corruption in the sport [1]. Match-fixing concerns have arisen as amateur leagues are vulnerable, and amateur players are unaware that their games are being bet on without any benefit to them or their clubs [1].
Despite the ban, many international betting platforms operate outside German law and list amateur matches from German regional and lower leagues to attract bettors worldwide, making it a billion-euro market [1][3]. The real-time match data is transmitted by local data scouts who collect and forward detailed in-game events, creating opportunities for live betting by these foreign operators [1].
The Joint Gaming Authority of the States banned sports betting on amateur football in Germany due to the risk of manipulation. However, the public prosecutor's office has investigated BSC Hastedt and some of its games [3]. A former player of the Bremen League speaks out in the report, claiming to know about numerous manipulations [2]. There were five games in the Bremen League in 2022 that were suspected of match-fixing [2].
A player of BSC Hastedt had bet on a defeat of his club, but no manipulation could be proven [2]. To combat this issue, Sportradar sent at least 2,700 data scouts to amateur games in Germany in the 2023/2024 season [3]. The Kirchheimer Sport Club discovered a data scout in the audience at one game and confronted him [3].
There are also providers with a German license that offer bets on German amateur football abroad, such as Betano [3]. These bets correspond to those that can be placed on the first to third Bundesliga [3]. The Kirchheimer Sport Club has now put up signs in the stadium that prohibit commercial data collection [3].
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has already detected 56 cases of suspected match-fixing in sports betting in the first quarter of 2024, 24 of which are related to football [3]. It is clear that the illegality stems from German law aiming to protect amateur football and prevent gambling-related harm. The ongoing betting on these matches occurs because foreign bookmakers exploit legal loopholes by operating internationally with real-time data feeds facilitated locally, beyond Germany's direct regulatory reach [1][3].
What is the connection between BSC Hastedt and sports-betting? The bet of 10,000 euros on a game of BSC Hastedt in Denmark, which they lost 0:2, highlights the vulnerability of amateur football leagues to sports-betting, as the team had no benefit from the bet placed on them.
