Suspicious betting incidents identified across six sports, amounting to 63 alerts, reported by IBIA during the first quarter.
In the initial months of 2025, it's footy and tennis that've been under the radar for sketchy betting activities, as per the latest figures from the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA). A total of 63 alerts, pertaining to six sports spread across 23 nations, caught their attention. That figure's a tad lower compared to Q4 2024, but still 11% higher than the number reported in Q1 2024.
Football and tennis dominated the scene, accounting for an astounding 64% of the total alerts. While it's worth noting that combined reports for these two sports rose from the previous year, there was a 14% dip in comparison to Q4 2024, chiefly due to tennis alerts taking a nose dive.
Regionally, a significant 51% of the alerts were linked to events in North America and Europe, marking a 29% drop from the previous quarter.
As for table tennis, it showed a remarkable change - the sport only triggered 9 alerts in Q1, contrasting starkly with the 21 reported in Q4 2024. This dramatic 53% decrease followed IBIA's decision to strengthen their monitoring and implement new agreements aimed at minimizing risks in the sport.
Khalid Ali, the CEO of IBIA, commented on the trends, stating, "The first quarter of 2025 saw a pattern consistent with the previous quarter and the same period last year. Football and tennis remain the most reported sports, although their combined Q1 2025 number saw a 14% decline compared to Q4 2024, primarily due to a slide in tennis alerts, which have shown a noticeable reduction in recent years. The Q4 2024 surge in table tennis alerts did not carry over into Q1 2025 and reverted to previous levels. IBIA has stepped up security measures regarding this sport and entered into a number of new integrity partnerships and protocols in Q1 with the aim of identifying and punishing corrupt betting activity."
IBIA partners with over 80 operators and more than 140 betting brands globally, keeping an eye on over $300 billion in annual betting turnover. They work hand-in-hand with regulators and sports authorities to fight match-fixing and preserve betting integrity.
- Tennis and football, despite a 14% dip in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024, continue to dominate betting alerts, accounting for 64% of the total, as revealed by Khalid Ali, the CEO of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
- Alerts related to sports betting in 2024 showed an 11% increase compared to Q1, with 63 alerts spread across six sports in 23 nations, according to the latest figures from IBIA.
- Alerts related to crime and justice or general-news topics accounted for only a minor portion of the total, whereas sports-betting alerts were the focus, with tennis and football being the most reported.
- In a positive development, table tennis witnessed a remarkable decrease in alerts from 21 in Q4 2024 to just 9 in Q1 2025, following IBIA's decision to strengthen their monitoring and implement new agreements aimed at minimizing risks in the sport.
- In addition to sports-betting alerts, IBIA also keeps watch over over $300 billion in annual betting turnover, partnering with over 80 operators and more than 140 betting brands globally, working together with regulators and sports authorities to fight match-fixing and preserve betting integrity.
