The global problem of illegal sports betting and its connection to sports corruption was the focal point of a recent UN conference in Atlanta, United States. The conference, organized by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), aimed to address the widespread issue of fraud and organized crime infiltrating the sporting world. Discussions were based on the UNODC’s groundbreaking Global Report on Corruption in Sport, highlighting the alarming rise in illegal betting due to the immense financial flow through professional sports, globalization, and technological advancements.
According to the UNODC’s estimates, organized crime controls illicit betting markets that accumulate up to $1.7 trillion in wagers. James Porteous, Research Head of the Asian Racing Federation Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Financial Crime, stated that illegal betting has become the primary catalyst for corruption in sports. He explained that outdated regulations written in the 19th century are ill-equipped to combat the challenges presented by the internet age.
Attendees from crime-fighting organizations emphasized the magnitude of the corruption problem. Humaid Al Ameemi, Coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Unit of INTERPOL, described match fixing as a highly organized crime involving money laundering and other illicit activities, urging the improvement of data sharing. Joseph Gillespie, Chief of the Transnational Organized Crime Threats Unit at the FBI, emphasized the Bureau’s interest in tackling corruption in sport as it provides opportunities for organized crime to profit through extortion, illegal betting, and other unlawful practices.
To combat competition manipulation, INTERPOL, UNODC, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) have collaborated on a guide for policymakers. Anita DeFrantz, an IOC member and a medalist at the 1976 Games in Montreal, stressed the importance of collaboration between sporting organizations and law enforcement agencies to ensure integrity and credibility. She highlighted the role of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport (IPACS), consisting of international sports organizations, governments, and intergovernmental bodies such as UNODC.
Football, being the world’s most popular sport and generating vast sums of money, is particularly susceptible to corruption. Even FIFA, the sport’s governing body, has faced criminal accusations and scandals, most notably in 2015 when several officials were arrested. Gianni Infantino, the current FIFA President, addressed the conference through a video message, stating that safeguarding football from corruption and ensuring sporting justice is of utmost importance to the organization.
A renewed Memorandum of Understanding between FIFA and UNODC has resulted in the development of over 60 anti-corruption projects, including the Global Integrity Programme combating match-fixing. The partnership aims to facilitate information exchange between all those fighting corruption across various domains.
The increased attention on corruption and crime in sport stems from the US Department of Justice’s investigation into FIFA corruption in 2016. This scrutiny has led to a stronger drive for action within the international community.
The UN conference has shed light on the pervasive issue of illegal betting and corruption in sports, urging collaborative efforts and improved regulations to combat these threats. By exposing the scale and impact of organized crime in the sporting world, this initiative aims to safeguard the integrity and credibility of sports globally.
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