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Sports betting : Avoiding the scourge of match-fixing in betting

Sports betting : Avoiding the scourge of match-fixing in betting

If there is one phrase guaranteed to get any major sports organisation on high alert, it is match-fixing. The appeal of sporting contests is founded upon the notion that all competitors are playing the game fairly and trying to win. 

Indeed, the huge sports betting industry is founded on this assumption. Therefore, anything that questions the integrity of any sporting contest is a huge deal.

This is not only for those concerned with the organisation and administration of the sport but also for sports betting sites and punters. In this post, we will provide some helpful tips on how to enjoy sports betting while avoiding any potential problems with match-fixing.

But first, let’s get some reassurance about how prevalent match-fixing is, certainly at the top levels of sport, and how sportsbooks have many different strategies employed to detect when somebody is trying to rig a match.

How prevalent is match-fixing in sports and sports betting?

Happily, the answer to this is that it is incredibly rare. In fact, at the highest level of almost every sport, there are massive safeguards and disincentives in place to stop any possibility of match-fixing. If found guilty, any sporting star faces a lengthy or even lifetime ban from the sport. It is also a criminal offence.

Furthermore, betting sites have experts and machine-learning software to monitor every betting market they offer. This can look for tell-tale signs of betting fraud and match-fixing and pull the plug on the market before the sporting contest has even started.

Of course, at lower levels of sport, competitors are not playing for as much, so do not have as much to lose. So, if an unscrupulous criminal approaches them with a guaranteed lump sum of cash to produce a certain outcome in a game, can that be detected?

Yes, it can. That is because the software used to detect rigged betting markets, or even suspected fixed-matches, doesn’t work on the principle of how much is being wagered. It is far more sophisticated than that and analyses a great deal of information about each questionable bet made, including where it was placed, who by, when and a myriad of other factors.

So the positive news is that most betting markets you will bet on with any reliable bookmaker will likely be completely safe and secure to place your bet with. 

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Can I take steps to avoid any match-fixed markets?

We’ve already noted that most betting markets with bookmakers are safe when it comes to match-fixing, but even then, it still does happen. 

A recent example was the furore in the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) where several players have been banned over the years for agreeing to lose frames, or matches, in exchange for large sums of money. 

So it is wise to stay on top of the different methodology’s you can use to help avoid any markets that could potentially be at risk of match-fixing. 

There are a number of strategies you can use to help you in this task:

  1. Follow the history of how the odds have changed on your selection.
  2. Bet on the most prestigious and highly regulated sporting competitions.
  3. Pay particular attention to individual sports.
  4. Ignore anybody who promises get-rich-quick schemes using rigged bets & markets.
  5. Be especially careful and conduct more research on less prestigious sporting events.

Let’s take a look at each of these in more detail. 

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How have the odds changed on my event or selection?

A red flag to look for is when the odds on a selection suddenly change markedly. This usually indicates that a significant amount of money has been bet on that outcome.

This may not necessarily mean that this outcome is fixed. For example, if Real Madrid are facing Barcelona in La Liga and the odds are slightly in their favour, but then after a midweek game, Real have lost three key players through injury and another two through suspension, then the odds on Real Madrid to win may well drift markedly and the odds on Barcelona to win will likely come in. 

However, if there is a market where the odds change drastically and there’s no apparent reason for that to be the case, then maybe it is best to avoid that market just to be on the safe side.

Focus on top level events and competitions

The top-level sports events across the world at national and international levels are all highly regulated. Instances of match-fixing in these events is incredibly rare. So if you focus your betting on these top events, then you should feel assured you won’t be stung.

Be more careful on individual sporting events

It stands to reason that it is much easier for a criminal to fix a match involving individual players, than one involving a team of players. If one player has been bribed to lose a game, his teammates, not in on the scam, can still play well enough to win it. 

Conmen and fraudsters are more likely to target individual events as they feel they are easier and cheaper to manipulate. 

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Dodgy tipsters - Avoid at all costs!

It goes without saying that if you receive a message or see a Twitter feed or similar that is promising you a chance to win big by betting on a rigged match, then you should avoid it. 

Firstly, if you do bet and are caught, at the very least, your bet will be voided and likely you will be banned from the site in question. Secondly, the dodgy tipster may just be a chancer, trying to goad people into betting money on a low-chance outcome. Or they could be a fraudster out to try and part you from your funds.

Research any less well-known sporting event carefully and watch its markets

It’s too difficult for criminals to target the most popular sports and events. So they will target smaller events. Be careful to research any bets you want to make on these events to ensure that the markets you bet on a fair and secure.

Fortunately, match-fixing in betting is incredibly rare nowadays, and becoming rarer still due to the technology used to catch the criminals trying to get away with it.  All of which means, if you bet sensibly and responsibly, you may never come across it.

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