IAGA, GREF AND IOC ANNOUNCE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF JOINT WORKSHOP FOCUSED
ON CRITICAL ISSUES SURROUNDING THE MANIPULATION OF SPORTS COMPETITIONS

On Monday, February 5, the International Association of Gaming Advisors (IAGA), the Gambling Regulators European Forum (GREF) and the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (“OM Unit PMC”) held an informative workshop on critical issues surrounding the manipulation of sports competitions. Featuring experts from the IOC, the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (Macolin Convention), INTERPOL, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), and the United Kingdom Gambling Commission, the workshop explored how the various sports organisations and betting stakeholders, notably regulators, can work together to protect international sporting events and gambling integrity. 

“With numerous major sporting events occurring in Europe in 2024, sports betting integrity, match-fixing, gambling advertising and sponsorship, and ethics and regulatory compliance are critical priorities for sporting event organisers and the gambling industry,” commented IAGA Executive Director Kirsten Clark. “Regulated sports wagering continues to be a popular gambling option in jurisdictions around the world and ensuring that all stakeholders work together to ensure match integrity Is an ongoing priority for the industry. We are pleased to have been able to bring together such an esteemed group of experts to discuss the issue and look forward to continuing the dialogue later this year at our annual International Gaming Summit that will be held in Washington, D.C. in late May.”
 
Friedrich Martens, Head of the OM unit PMC added “cooperation and info-sharing between betting regulators and the Olympic Movement is crucial to identify potential breaches of the rules, including competition manipulation and betting on one’s sport. This workshop helped us to further raise awareness on the matter among betting regulators across Europe and beyond and further strengthen the cooperation between the Olympic movement and the betting sector. Warm thanks to GREF and IAGA for the excellent cooperation in relation to the organisation of this event”.

According to Isabelle FALQUE-PIERROTIN, ANJ and GREF Chairwoman: “Match-fixing undermines the integrity of the game, tarnishes the reputation of athletes and erodes public confidence in the authenticity of sporting events, thereby damaging the credibility of the entire sports industry. All stakeholders, both public and private, must therefore join forces to prevent the manipulation of sporting competitions, particularly in the run-up to next summer’s Olympic games.”
 
Finally, John Hagan, Managing Partner of Harris Hagan, commented that “the regulated gambling industry has a critical role to play in supporting sports organisations, regulators and law enforcement authorities in their efforts to prevent competition manipulation, to raise awareness of the risks and to act decisively whenever it occurs. This workshop provided a fascinating insight into the expertise, proactivity and extensive co-operation amongst the key stakeholders tasked with ensuring the integrity of the major sporting events this summer and beyond. The importance of continuing and strengthening collaboration between the key stakeholders was a central theme and something upon which all present were aligned, from the sports and gambling sectors alike”. 
  
A copy of the workshop agenda is included below, and photos are available upon request. 
 
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Workshop Agenda
IOC Lecture on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions
  • Introduction to the work of the Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions (“OM Unit PMC”), by Friedrich Martens, Head of the OM Unit PMC
  • The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sport Competitions (Macolin Convention) – focus on the betting-related provisions, by Nicolas Sayde, Macolin Convention Secretary
  • The Olympic Movement Rules related to betting and the work of the Unit with betting entities, by Evangelos Alexandrakis & Aiden Yang, Olympic Movement Unit on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions
 
Joint Comments from GREF and IAGA
  • Welcome and Introductory Comments from GREF Chairperson Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin – the Autorité nationale des jeux, French regulator
  • Welcome and Introductory Comments from IAGA former President and Trustee John Hagan, Managing Partner, Harris Hagan
 
Roundtable: Working together to protect international sporting events and gambling integrity
  • With numerous major sporting events occurring in Europe in 2024, sports betting integrity, match-fixing, gambling advertising and sponsorship, and ethics and regulatory compliance will be critical priorities for sporting event organisers and the gambling industry 
  • Discussing how major sporting event organisers and the regulated gambling industry can independently and collaboratively address these concerns, the roundtable will consider:
    • The rules and regulations governing sports betting activities and their role in ensuring sports betting integrity; 
    • How stakeholders can work together by sharing information and expertise relating to illegal betting, match-fixing, underage gambling, and the black market;
    • Gambling advertising and sponsorship challenges including potential conflicts of interest and how they might impact major sporting events;
    • Ethics and compliance issues such as sports betting by players, officials and competitors (and their friends and families) in breach of regulations, unusual and suspicious betting activity, personal data protection and more; and 
    • Learning lessons from and effective responses to high-profile sports betting controversies at sporting events.
Moderated by John Hagan, Managing Partner with Harris Hagan, the panelists include:
  • Dieter Braekeveld, Integrity in Sports Training Officer, INTERPOL 
  • Friedrich Martens, Head of the OM Unit PMC, International Olympic Committee
  • Tim Miller, Executive Director, UK Gambling Commission
  • Nicolas Saydé, Head of the Macolin Secretariat, Council of Europe Sport Division 
  • Vincent Ven, Head of Anti-Match-Fixing Unit – Integrity and Regulatory Division, UEFA