Significant strides are being made in the global effort to combat match-fixing in sports. According to the annual integrity report released by sports data company Sportradar, suspected manipulation across monitored events decreased by 17% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Out of over 850,000 events monitored, 1,108 showed signs of suspicious activity, marking a significant drop in the rate of suspected match-fixing—now down to one in 615 events globally, compared to one in every 467 in 2023.

Key Factors Driving Progress

Several advancements have contributed to this positive trend:

• Improved Artificial Intelligence Technology: AI continues to enhance the detection of competition manipulation and is now a primary monitoring tool in several major sports, including tennis and volleyball.
• Enhanced Betting Data Analysis: Better access to and analysis of account-level betting data has allowed for more precise detection of suspicious activity.
• Increased Vigilance from Governing Bodies: Sports leagues and governing organizations have stepped up their efforts, resulting in 104 sporting and criminal sanctions in 2024 for activities compromising match integrity.

“I see this as a positive and hope it continues,” said Sportradar EVP Andreas Krannich. “It’s only a snapshot in a much larger period of time fighting for sporting integrity, and it won’t mean anything unless we continue it. We have to now train for the next season, so to speak, and stay vigilant in our fight against this cancer.”

Persistent Challenges

Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Europe accounted for the largest share of suspicious activity, with 439 of the 1,108 flagged events, and soccer remains the sport most affected by match-fixing. However, the number of suspicious cases in Europe decreased by roughly a third compared to 2023, signaling notable progress.

Match-Fixing Scandals in the U.S.

The Sportradar report comes amid a year of high-profile match-fixing and gambling scandals in U.S. sports:

• Jontay Porter (NBA): The former NBA player was banned for life in April 2024 for manipulating his own playing availability for betting purposes.
• Tucupita Marcano (MLB): The MLB infielder faced a lifetime ban after similar misconduct. Several other players were suspended for one year.
• Ippei Mizuhara: Shohei Ohtani’s former interpreter stole more than $16 million to fund illegal gambling debts. Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud last June and is awaiting sentencing.

Looking Ahead

While progress is encouraging, Sportradar’s Krannich emphasized the need for continued vigilance and innovation in combating match-fixing. The combination of advanced technologies, rigorous oversight, and cross-industry collaboration will be crucial in ensuring the integrity of sports worldwide.

The battle against match-fixing is far from over, but the downward trend in suspicious activities offers hope for the future of fair play in sports.