Leading global efforts to safeguard sports integrity

The challenges of illegal betting and sports competition manipulation affect all global regions and have a negative impact on the regulated lotteries and sports betting operators, as well as the broader sports ecosystem.

The WLA Betting Integrity on Sports and Horse Racing Committee (BISHRC) was established to further the collective interests of WLA Members, and contribute towards safeguarding their reputations, by combating the manipulation and fixing of sporting and horse racing events, through the development of tools and resources to assist members, and its collaboration with the United Lotteries for Integrity in Sport (ULIS).

With more than half of WLA lottery members offering sports betting, the Committee’s work has become increasingly important.

WLA continued support for the Macolin Convention

The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions, aka The Macolin Convention, was established to address growing illegal sports betting and manipulation of results, which had a negative impact on the image of sport in a number of countries, through the development and implementation of mechanisms to reduce the risk of match-fixing, illegal sports betting or other illicit activities.

The WLA was instrumental in drafting the Macolin Convention and is aligned with its definition of legal and illegal gaming, which is embedded in the WLA Code of Conduct.

The Macolin Community network, comprised of key global stakeholders, comprises public authorities, sports organizations, betting operators, betting monitoring bodies, law enforcement and judiciary agencies, supports the Macolin Convention, through projects in different global regions, to combat match fixing and its broader implications.

A united effort

Council of Europe ACT Project

As a leader in the fight against these illicit activities, the WLA works with partners, such as the Council of Europe (CoE) and actively supports its Addressing Competitions Manipulation Together (ACT) project.

With continued expansion of online sports betting in North America, it was deemed paramount to establish the appropriate framework and regulations in the region, to reduce the risk of the manipulation of sports competitions, money laundering, and the growth of illegal betting.

In April, the WLA Executive Director, Luca Esposito, participated in the CoE’s ACT project event in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, on the theme of Combating the manipulation of sports competitions and illegal betting.

Hosted by Loto-Québec and supported by the WLA BISHRC, the event raised awareness among participants about key challenges related to sports competitions manipulation and illegal betting.

It also provided an overview of diverse approaches to address sports competition manipulation and illegal betting, including measures to facilitate international and national cooperation between public authorities (law enforcement and justice), sports organizations, gambling regulators and betting operators.

In alignment with WLA Strategic Initiatives, it was decided to continue financially sponsoring the work done by the CoE for the ACT Project.

Development of guidelines

The WLA also supports and participates in meetings of the Council of Europe Follow-up Committee on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions (CETS No. 215), established to monitor the implementation of the Macolin Convention by its States Parties. Over the course of the year, WLA contributed to the ongoing development of draft guidelines on the fight against illegal betting and the typology of betting operators, on reasonable betting and on combatting money laundering through sports.

Updating members on industry developments through events

The annual sports betting seminar, organized through the BISHRC, together with the European Lotteries, and host lottery Svenska Spel, was held in Stockholm, Sweden, and examined technology and trends driving sports betting worldwide.

Over 100 participants attended from all five WLA global regions, to learn from experts about betting offers, how to revitalize sports betting, the duty of care of the regulated sports betting industry, successful tools and strategies for enhancing player safety and experience, as well as ways to tackle illegal gaming and combat sports competition manipulation.

ULIS elections and future path

In September, during the ULIS General Meeting in Bern, Switzerland, a new President, Jean-Luc Moner-Banet, CEO, Loterie Romande, and Executive Committee for 2025-2028 were elected.

In the run up to the elections, as a founding member, the WLA BISHRC put forward two candidates – Chee Weng Lam, CEO, Singapore Pools, and Louis Beaudet, Sports and Entertainment Betting Director, Loto-Québec, Canada – who were also elected to the Executive Committee.

During the GM, a new strategy for 2025-2028 was approved, which will aim to improve communications, broaden global membership in underrepresented regions, diversify funding sources, as well as expand service offerings.