UN Conference reps discuss updating regulations amid increase in illegal betting, match-fixing

December 21, 2023 World Crime & Legal

From December 11 to December 15, the Conference of the States Parties, the principal governance body of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, held its tenth session. Amid the diverse array of topics addressed at the conference, government representatives expressed apprehension regarding the widespread influence of illicit sports wagering on the credibility of the sports industry.

By utilizing data obtained from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, specialists have generated concerning projections that indicate the annual wagering on illicit betting platforms may reach as high as $1.7 trillion. The purported affiliation of the majority of these enterprises with organized crime syndicates underscores the perils associated with participating in such unlawful undertakings.

The director of research for the Asian Racing Federation Council on Anti-illicit wagering and Related Financial Crime, James Porteous, identified illegal wagering as the principal catalyst for sports corruption and emphasized its alarming increase. The speaker emphasized the shortcomings in the current legal regimes of certain United Nations member states, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive approaches to efficiently tackle this complex matter.

Coordinator of Interpol’s Anti-Corruption Unit Humaid Al Ameemi characterized match manipulation as a highly organized crime involving money evasion and additional illegal activities. Al Ameemi advocated for increased data transmission among authorities as a means to strengthen endeavors aimed at preventing fraud. He underscored the significance of match-fixing as a precursor to more extensive criminal activities.

The notion was reiterated by Joseph Gillespie, the head of the Transnational Organized Crime Threats Unit of the FBI, who also underscored the organization’s commitment to addressing sports corruption.

A member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Anita DeFrantz, underscored the imperative for governmental agencies and athletic organizations to collaborate. She emphasized the critical nature of the International Partnership Against Corruption in Sport in its efforts to prevent and combat sports fraud.

Amidst the deliberations, soccer, a globally renowned athletic event, emerged as a pivotal topic of apprehension. Conducting a video presentation for the conference, Gianni Infantino, the interim president of FIFA, underscored the criticality of safeguarding the sport against illicit activities and corruption. Football, a multibillion-dollar international industry that is prone to corruption, requires collaborative efforts to maintain equitable playing conditions, Infantino emphasized.

FIFA, in reaffirming its Memorandum of Understanding with the UNODC, aimed to safeguard the integrity of the soccer world. As stated by President Infantino, this collaboration has played a pivotal role in the progression of over sixty anti-corruption endeavors, signifying an unwavering commitment to mitigating the hazards linked to fraudulent activities and corrupt practices within the realm of sports.