Top insights on integrity in sport

At BiS SiGMA Americas 2025, a crucial panel on ‘Integrity in Sport: Technology and Innovation as Allies Against Match-Fixing’ was held on the second day at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo. This session brought together a distinguished panel of experts to discuss the vital role that technology, specifically AI, big data, and blockchain, plays in detecting and preventing match-fixing while safeguarding the integrity of sports. With the global betting market expanding, the panel explored how these tools can monitor suspicious patterns, protect the credibility of events, and shape the future of sports integrity.

Moderated by Filipe Rodrigues, CEO of Jogo Positivo, the panel included key industry figures: Ruy Peixoto, CTO at Esportes Gaming Brasil, Ian Cook, Managing Director at StoneTurn, Dan Kraft, President at CD Prêmios e Apostas, and Felippe Marchetti, Integrity Partnership Manager – LATAM at Sportradar. Together, they offered a comprehensive view on the intersection of technology, regulation, and the fight against corruption in sports.

Key highlights

• Ruy Peixoto emphasized that AI and big data, particularly through collaborations with Sportradar, can track betting patterns and identify high-risk events. This technology is essential for detecting irregularities and preventing manipulation before it happens.
• Felippe Marchetti discussed the importance of educating athletes and the public about the risks of match-fixing. He emphasized the need for training programmes for players, focusing on how to recognise and report suspicious behaviour.
• Felippe also argued against banning markets like individual player cards, stating that this would simply push betting to illegal platforms. Instead, he advocated for smarter regulation, where operators are required to report suspicious activities in a structured and comparable way.
• Dan Kraft provided insights on how arbitration can be used to resolve disputes in the betting industry, focusing on non-criminal issues like sponsorship contracts and market integrity, thus helping to maintain a fair and credible industry.
• The panel stressed the importance of creating a comprehensive National Match-Fixing Policy in Brazil. The involvement of both public and private sectors is essential to address the global nature of match-fixing, which often ties into organised crime and money laundering.

The discussion emphasized that Brazil has made significant progress in addressing match-fixing, as indicated by a 48% reduction in cases over the past year. However, ongoing collaboration and innovation are essential to maintain this positive trend. As Brazil continues to improve its regulatory frameworks, the panel’s insights stress the importance of remaining vigilant in the fight for sports integrity.

To stay informed about the latest developments in sports regulation and integrity, explore more discussions at SiGMA Group’s global summits. Additionally, look forward to the upcoming summit in Manila, which will take place from June 1st to June 4th. This event will provide ongoing insights into the evolving landscape of iGaming and sports betting.