Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime

SPORT-SPECIFIC CORRUPTION

Sport-specific corruption refers to corrupt acts that are unique to sports, primarily competition manipulation (also commonly known as match-fixing) and illegal betting. These corrupt practices undermine the integrity of sports by distorting fair competition and exploiting the unpredictability of sporting events for illicit financial gain.

Competition manipulation

Competition manipulation refers to the intentional and unlawful alteration of the course or outcome of a sporting event to achieve a predetermined result, usually for financial gain or other illicit benefits. This manipulation can involve athletes, coaches, referees or other officials, and is often driven by external pressures, such as illegal betting syndicates. Competition manipulation compromises the true competitive nature of the event and deceives participants, spectators, sponsors and other stakeholders.

Competition manipulation can occur in the form of:

Match-fixing

This involves manipulating the outcome of a sporting event for financial gain.

Spot-fixing

This involves fixing specific aspects of a match, such as a certain player scoring a goal or a team receiving a penalty.

Section 8 of the UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Understanding the Manipulation of Sports Competitions

Offering for the first time a truly comprehensive look at corruption in sport, this global report reveals the staggering scale, manifestation and complexity of corruption and criminal networks in sport at international and national level. Section 8 is dedicated to the manipulation of sports competitions.

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Global mapping of laws used to tackle competition manipulation

A joint initiative developed by UNODC and the International Olympic Committee

UNODC has gathered information on legislation in 48 jurisdictions which specifically refers to tackling the manipulation of sports competitions, with the overall aim of providing lawmakers, policymakers, prosecutors and other relevant officials with access to this legislation.

The resource page also seeks to support officials who are looking to develop effective legislation which criminalizes the manipulation of sports competitions by proposing model criminal law provisions for this purpose.

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Illegal betting

Illegal betting refers to wagering or placing bets on sports or other events through unregulated, unauthorized or illegal channels that operate outside the legal frameworks established by government or regulatory bodies. This can involve placing bets with bookmakers who do not have the necessary licenses, using offshore betting platforms, participating in underground betting syndicates or engaging in betting activities that are prohibited by law in a particular jurisdiction.

Illegal betting is expanding rapidly. Technological advancements have reshaped the illegal betting landscape, as online platforms offer anonymity and easy access, while payment methods such as pre-paid cards and cryptocurrencies are gaining popularity due to their inherent difficulty to trace.

Illegal betting can occur in the form of:

Betting on manipulated competitions

This involves betting on the outcome of a sporting event that has been fixed. ...........................................

Betting on non-competitive events

This involves betting on events that are not officially sanctioned or recognized by governing bodies.

Illegal online betting

This involves operating or participating in online betting activities that are not licensed or regulated in the jurisdiction where they are located.

To bring more clarity on the definition of illegal betting, sports betting activities can be categorized as follows:

White market: Betting operators are fully licensed to operate in all jurisdictions where they accept bets.

Grey market: Betting operators hold a license in at least one jurisdiction but accept bets in areas where their betting products are illegal.

Black market: Unlicensed betting operators operate across multiple jurisdictions and can be considered a form of transnational organized crime.

Section 9 of the UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Illegal betting and sport

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United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Corruption and Economic Crime Branch

Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime

SPORT-SPECIFIC CORRUPTION

Competition manipulation

Match-fixing

Spot-fixing

Section 8 of the UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Understanding the Manipulation of Sports Competitions

Global mapping of laws used to tackle competition manipulation

Illegal betting

Betting on manipulated competitions

Betting on non-competitive events

Illegal online betting

Section 9 of the UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Illegal betting and sport

Resources

UNODC, International Olympic Committee | 2023

A Practical Guide to the Prosecution of Cases of Competition Manipulation

UNODC, International Olympic Committee, INTERPOL | 2023

Investigation of Cases of Competition Manipulation: A Practical Guide

UNODC, International Olympic Committee | 2021

Legal Approaches to Tackling the Manipulation of Sports Competitions: A Resource Guide

UNODC, International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) | 2016

Resource Guide on Good Practices in the Investigation of Match-Fixing

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

Corruption and Economic Crime Branch

Safeguarding Sport from Corruption and Economic Crime

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SPORT-SPECIFIC CORRUPTION

Competition manipulation

Match-fixing

Spot-fixing

Section 8 of the UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Understanding the Manipulation of Sports Competitions

Global mapping of laws used to tackle competition manipulation

Illegal betting

Betting on manipulated competitions

Betting on non-competitive events

Illegal online betting

Section 9 of the UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport: Illegal betting and sport

Resources

UNODC, International Olympic Committee | 2023

A Practical Guide to the Prosecution of Cases of Competition Manipulation

UNODC, International Olympic Committee, INTERPOL | 2023

Investigation of Cases of Competition Manipulation: A Practical Guide

UNODC, International Olympic Committee | 2021

Legal Approaches to Tackling the Manipulation of Sports Competitions: A Resource Guide

UNODC, International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) | 2016

Resource Guide on Good Practices in the Investigation of Match-Fixing