Protecting Integrity in Football: Lessons from Betting Cases
This panel will explore the complexities of maintaining integrity in professional football, drawing on recent investigations by The FA. The session will examine investigations into alleged betting rule breaches by professional players, the legal and regulatory processes involved, and the ultimate resolutions by the Independent Regulatory Commission. Panelists will discuss what went right and wrong in the processes, what they learnt, the importance of collaboration between football authorities, the betting operators, and gambling regulators, and practical steps for protecting the sport’s reputation. Attendees will gain insights into risk management, regulatory best practices, and the evolving landscape of sports integrity.

Presented by:

• David Matthews, Head of Integrity, The FA
• Tom Astley, Betting Integrity Investigator, The FA
• Matt Fowler, Head of Global Operations, International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA)

Match-Fixing in the Spotlight: Safeguarding Integrity
in Regulated Sports Betting
With recent scandals in the NBA and MLB exposing vulnerabilities in regulated sports betting, the threat of match-fixing has become a central concern for sports leagues and governing bodies, gambling operators and regulators, and federal government entities around the world. This panel will explore the critical role of collaboration among stakeholders—including sportsbooks, integrity monitors, and law enforcement—in protecting the integrity of competition. Panelists will also address the evolving risks of money laundering and fraud, and share best practices for building robust compliance frameworks that can adapt to new threats in a rapidly changing industry.

Networking Break 

Convergence and Compliance: Navigating the Blurring Lines
of Gambling, Media, and Sports
As economic uncertainty accelerates the convergence of gambling, media, and sports, the boundaries between digital entertainment sectors—sports, social media, streaming, influencers, event predictions, video games, and betting—are increasingly blurred. This session examines how the wider ecosystem, including platforms like Facebook, Google, payment providers, and affiliates, can promote or hinder the success of licensed markets. Panelists will also explore the compliance challenges posed by EU regulations such as the AI Act, Digital Services Act, and European Accessibility Act, and discuss strategies for adapting to a rapidly evolving landscape where entertainment, technology, and regulation intersect.

Lunch

Adjusting Compliance Programs to Address
Cryptocurrency Risks in Gambling
As cryptocurrency’s use becomes increasingly common across numerous consumer industries worldwide, the gambling sector is being compelled to evaluate its acceptable use within casinos and online betting platforms. With many offshore operators already embracing crypto, regulated markets must evaluate its safe use while considering challenges it presents customer anonymity, anti-money laundering (AML) concerns, and regulatory gaps. This session will explore practical strategies for updating financial crime compliance frameworks, including monitoring transactions and implementing effective controls, to stay ahead of evolving threats cryptocurrency presents in both digital and traditional bricks and mortar gambling environments.

Taxation and Channelization: Measuring the Impact 
on Gambling Industry Success
As governments increasingly view the gambling and betting industry as an easy target for tax hikes to offset budget shortfalls, operators must adapt their business strategies to remain competitive and compliant. This data-driven session will examine how tax increases influence channelization and regulatory success, drawing on jurisdiction-specific examples from the US, EU, and other markets. Panelists will discuss the drivers for and against black and grey markets, share insights on measuring the impact of taxation, and explore what approaches have proven effective—or problematic—in different regulatory environments.

Networking Break

From Red Flags to Action: Responding to Potentially Suspicious Gaming
and Financial Activity
Featuring real-world examples of how gambling operators and financial crime compliance teams identify and respond to unusual and / or suspicious activity, our expert panelists will share practical approaches for detecting red flags in both gaming behavior and financial transactions, discuss the tools and strategies used to investigate and escalate concerns, and highlight successful interventions that protect the integrity of the industry.