Las Vegas sportsbooks are under scrutiny following reports of suspicious betting on the UNLV football game against New Mexico last month. The Rebels opened as 9-point favorites, and the line quickly soared to as high as 16½ before UNLV secured a decisive 56-14 victory over the Lobos on November 4.

US Integrity Launches Investigation into Unusual Betting Patterns

The unusual betting patterns triggered alerts received by various sportsbooks, with the Westgate SuperBook vice president, Jay Kornegay, acknowledging that they were notified by US Integrity, an independent sports wagering monitor based in Henderson, reported The Las Vegas Review-Journal. 

Caesars Sportsbook also confirmed receiving the alert, emphasizing that it was a matter that concerned the entire industry.

While Kornegay expressed that they did not observe any suspicious activity at their sportsbook, he noted that the absence of new accounts specifically targeting the UNLV game would have been a red flag for them. 

US Integrity, monitoring betting activity for over 150 clients in 36 states, including the Mountain West Conference, is currently involved in investigating the matter. However, US Integrity’s co-founder and CEO, Matthew Holt, declined to comment, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

Nevada Gaming Control Board Maintains Silence on Investigation

The Nevada Gaming Control Board, as part of its standard regulatory practice, neither confirmed nor denied any ongoing investigation into the suspicious betting activity.

One notable wager on the game drew attention, as a bettor at the BetMGM sportsbook at the Bellagio placed a substantial $200,000 bet on the Rebels with a spread of -13, aiming to win $181,000. The Mirage sportsbook manager, Scott Shelton, described it as the largest UNLV bet he had ever seen.

Despite the suspicions raised by the betting activity, UNLV football remained adamant that it did not involve the university. 

Rebels coach Barry Odom told the Action Network that during the game, he did not observe anything unusual, emphasizing their focus on taking control early and securing the win.

New Mexico’s athletic director, Eddie Nunez, confirmed being notified about the suspicious betting activity a week after the game by US Integrity. Nunez stated that the coaching staff had no knowledge of any wrongdoing, attributing the significant loss to a lackluster performance rather than any external factors. While the investigation is ongoing, the sportsbooks are reviewing the unusual line movement and large bets, trying to determine whether it was a result of informed betting strategies or potentially illicit activities.

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A day after launching in Serbia, Betsson unveiled its plans for further expansion through acquisitions. As announced, the gambling group has completed a EUR 75 million (around $80.4 million) bond issue to fuel its M&A ambitions.

The company explained that the issue is under a framework of up to EUR 250 million ($267 million) and has a tenor of three years. The bond issue also has a floating interest rate of EURIBOR three months plus 460 bps. Finally, Betsson said that the bond issue is set to mature in September 2026.

The group noted that Nordea has acted as the global coordinator of the move. At the same time, Nordea and Swedbank jointly acted as bookrunners for the issue. In the meantime, Gernandt & Danielsson served as the legal counsel of the bond issue.

The Funds Will Be Used for Acquisitions and Other Purposes

Bettson confirmed that it plans to use the funds from the issue of the bonds for various company purposes, which may include acquisitions.

The company’s chief financial officer, Martin Öhman, released a statement on the matter, pointing out that the new bond is in line with Betsson’s strategy and will provide his team with new opportunities.

The new bond provides us with additional financial flexibility and supports Betsson’s long-term strategy, which means continued investments to drive profitable growth.

Martin Öhman, CFO, Betsson

Betsson Is Cultivating a Brand Identity

In other news, Betsson recently strengthened its esports betting offering thanks to a new partnership arrangement with BETER. Facilitated by BETBAZAR, the deal saw BETER provide Betsson with esports odds feeds and ESportsBattle tournaments for Dota 2 and CS:GO.

Earlier in August, Betsson rebranded its Denmark-facing subsidiary. Previously Casino.dk, the site will now go under Betsson’s name, allowing the company to popularize its brand. The move, the operator confirmed at the time, aligns with its strategy to cultivate a global brand identity.

Speaking of the promotion of Betsson’s products, the company recently unveiled a new global marketing concept. Under the slogan “A bet makes the difference,” Betsson seeks to promote the excitement sports betting can bring and the ways in which wagering can enhance the overall experience.

The company’s global brand director, Kay Höök, said in a statement that Betsson cannot control the outcome of a game but can make sure that its players feel engaged each time they place a bet.

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According to FIFA’s Integrity Task Force, there have been no suspicious bets placed during the tournaments, and the 64-game event that was co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.

FIFA Keeps Women’s World Cup Safe of Manipulation

Match-fixing has been a concern for sports events, particularly FIFA which governs the world’s most popular sport and has to deal with the bulk of match manipulation. Commenting on its findings, FIFA said:

The collaborative effort between FIFA and key international stakeholders in the field of sports integrity ensured an experienced, coordinated, and timely response, with each participating stakeholder contributing their specific expertise throughout the tournament.

FIFA

The lack of wrongdoing is encouraging pointing to increased scrutiny of the betting markets globally and ensuring the integrity of the competition. The contest was safeguarded by a number of high-profile and ranking law enforcement agencies, including INTERPOL and the FBI that have long been interested in sports fraud as they usually tie it to more serious crimes.

The New Zealand Police and Sport Integrity Australia were also involved. Commenting on its approach, FIFA said that it used big data to analyze betting activity on the event and has not found evidence to suggest that any manipulation had indeed taken place.

This is the latest successful investigation concluded by FIFA’s Integrity Task Force, a fairly new unit that has been hard at work fighting match manipulation. FIFA previously worked hard to ensure the Men’s World Cup in Qatar is safeguarded.

Match Fixing in Sports Continues

However, the fact that FIFA is not finding manipulated games does not mean that corruption is gone from the sport – it may just not be focused on the most prominent events that attract the most eyeballs. Sportradar, a company that follows such instances of match manipulation, was able to track more than 1,000 potentially manipulated games in 2022 alone – the first time Sportradar posted such serious numbers.

The exact number of suspicious matches hit 1,212. Soccer was by far the most attractive sport for potential offenses related to match-fixing with 775 of the alerts focusing on the game.

Sportradar though is more insightful as to the reasons why this happens with the company believing that when many lower-tier athletes retire, they may be tempted to follow down a path that allows them to monetize their inside knowledge through illicit means. Luckily, at least for now, this does not seem to be the case in FIFA.

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The study sheds light on the gambling activity that unfolds during such high-profile events and their aftermath. Its findings will help the British regulator make better-informed decisions and remain in touch with the ever-changing global gaming landscape. Analyzing these interactions will help the commission enhance its regulatory measures and promote responsible gambling practices.

Impressive Participation Yielded Reliable Results

The UKGC commissioned fieldwork and data collection company Yonder Data Solutions to examine the gambling activity during and after the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Yonder’s approach involved contacting individuals who engaged in betting during the tournament. Respondents answered questions about their gambling behaviors and attitudes over the preceding four weeks.

The study yielded valuable insights by re-contacting the same people in March to uncover any changes in their gambling behavior. 811 individuals participated in both surveys, forming a solid foundation for the research’s conclusions. Such data will be invaluable in the UKGC’s efforts to promote safe gambling during similar high-profile events.

The World Cup Had a Significant Impact on Bettors

According to the UK regulator, the data revealed several notable trends. Compared to the 12 months used for previous surveys, respondents reflected on the period since the world cup. However, average gambling participation increased. Although wager amounts dropped significantly, the higher-than-average engagement signifies that high-profile sports events can efficiently onboard and retain gambling customers.

The UKGC also examined the results according to its Path to Play framework, determining that most World Cup bettors engaged with gambling to add excitement to the game, often choosing to participate due to influence from friends. These findings mean participants are less likely to wager “For the Money,” making them less at risk of problem gambling.

This reinforces the view that betting on the World Cup was more of a social experience than normal football betting.

UKGC report

Despite the prevailing social aspect of World Cup gambling, it led to continued betting engagement for a third of participants, demonstrating its potential status as a “gateway” event. Gambling harm data was inconclusive, prompting the UKGC to consider additional research as the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final is just around the corner.

By engaging in such investigations, the UKGC continues to equip itself with actionable insights to protect bettors and address potential challenges in the gambling landscape. The regulator’s efforts reflect its commitment to maintaining a balanced and transparent gambling sector that prioritizes consumer well-being and responsible gambling practices.

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Despite the record momentum of the gaming industry, gaming executives are increasingly cautious about the industry’s future prospects, according to a report by the American Gaming Association (AGA) compiled in partnership with Fitch Ratings. 

Gaming Industry Executives Predict Flat Growth Ahead Despite Record Momentum

Two-thirds of respondents expect conditions to remain the same. The report found that gaming-related economic activity expanded at an annualized rate of 8.4% in the last three quarters, while the US economy grew by 2.9% over the last two quarters of 2022.

The data in the report suggested that annualized industry economic activity will decrease moderately over the next six months. The results showed that more executives expect a decrease in the pace of hiring new employees, revenue growth, and customer activity over the next three to six months than an increase. 

However, there was a brighter outlook for certain segments of their businesses, with more operators expecting capital investment and gaming units in operation to increase rather than decrease over the same period.

Gaming equipment manufacturers expressed significant optimism, with most expecting sales of gaming units for replacement use to increase and almost all expecting sales of units for new or expansion use to increase. 

Economic Uncertainty and Geopolitical Risk Among Top Concerns for Gaming Industry Executives

Among the top concerns for industry executives were interest rates and inflation, cited by 69% of respondents, and economic uncertainty, cited by 38%. Meanwhile, supply chain delays, which had been a top-five concern in the previous report, fell out of favor, with geopolitical risk taking their place.

Retention of talent remained a challenge for the industry, with competition for current employees cited as an area of concern.

AGA President and CEO Bill Miller said that gaming was well-positioned to weather any potential economic headwinds, but projections of slowing growth across the broader US economy had muted expectations for gaming in the medium term. 

The report, prepared biannually by Oxford Economics, provides a timely measure of recent industry growth and future expectations.

A total of 26 executives responded to the Q1 2023 survey, including those at the major international and domestic gaming companies, tribal gaming operators, single-unit casino operators, major gaming equipment suppliers, and major iGaming and sports betting operators. Another recent report by AGA highlighted that the US gaming industry is more diverse than the larger hospitality sector and the US workforce. The study revealed that 62% of gaming industry employees are minorities, with Asian employees representing a significant presence with 14%, double the national workforce.

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The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has asked unlicensed operators to self-report their activity. This refers to companies that hold a license in European jurisdictions but are not licensed by the MGA. The regulator implied that it might be much more lenient to companies that decide to come forward.

MGA Asks Unlicensed Operators to Come Forward

As outlined in Regulation 22 of the Gaming Authorizations Regulations (S.L. 583.05), all entities that offer licensable games either in or from Malta and do not possess a license to do so should contact the authority.

The MGA pointed out that its appeal concerns companies that are licensed in a country that is a member state of the European Union or is a part of the European Economic Area. The appeal also concerns any operators that might offer customer safeguards that correspond to Maltese standards.

Such companies should apply for a recognition notice, the MGA concluded, basically asking companies to apply for a license if they are to continue offering their products in or from Malta.

The Operator Will Keep Self-Reported Companies in Mind

Gambling operators have until April 14 this year to comply with this call and self-report their activities. The MGA expects such companies to come forward and detail their administrative non-compliance.

The regulator concluded that it will make sure to be less harsh toward companies that have self-reported their unlicensed activities when taking action against unlicensed gambling.

The Authority shall consider this act of disclosure when meeting out any ensuing administrative decision in this regard.

MGA statement

The MGA noted that any entities wishing to learn more about the self-reporting scheme should contact the regulator. Unlicensed companies seeking to open a new page can connect with the MGA and learn more about the process by contacting the authority at [email protected]

The MGA Recently Updated Its Player Protection Directive

In other Malta-related news, the regulator introduced changes to its Player Protection Directive a month ago. The MGA based the amendments on feedback received through a dedicated consultation process and required licensed companies to monitor markers of harm.

In short, the MGA wants companies to keep track of their players’ behavior and intervene when a customer exhibits signs of problem gambling. Tracking suspicious activity may also help the MGA prevent monetary fraud such as money laundering.

The changes came into power on January 12, 2023. The move demonstrated the authority’s dedication to safe and responsible gambling and, according to the announcement, paved the way for further framework updates and improvements.

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