A year of evolution
In an era of booming online sports betting, an increase in digital sports offerings on more sports, and the growing legalization of online betting and gaming in jurisdictions around the world, there has also been an increase in match fixing and illegal betting markets.
This jeopardizes the credibility and reputation of legal lotteries and sports betting operators, and the sports world in general, and negatively affects many stakeholders within the broader community. It also leads to a significant loss of global revenue for good causes.
New brand identity rolled out
ULIS activities, products and services have never been more relevant. Given the aforementioned global trends, ULIS began to develop a new strategy and brand identity, to be more effective in achieving its goal of supporting state licensed lotteries in their mission to ensure sports integrity around the world, and to fight sports competition manipulation and other related illicit activities.
Over the course of 2023, ULIS delivered its new website, a key milestone, showcasing streamlined content and offering a user-friendly experience of easy access to information about its services, network, news and events, management, and publications.
Expansion of services
It broadened its services beyond detecting and monitoring suspicious activities during sports competitions, to comprise analysis as a key part of the new strategy, as well as providing professional training and information sessions for global stakeholders, and raising awareness of sports competition manipulation, at local and international levels.
Work also progressed on the new monitoring platform, one of our key services, which we hope to deliver in time for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Increased awareness raising activities
To achieve this, and raise awareness of its work, ULIS collaborated with partners such as FIFA, INTERPOL, and UEFA on different projects, for instance, the Macolin Convention and the Council of Europe’s project for Addressing Competitions' Manipulation Together (ACT). It also worked to develop responsible and reasonable best practices for sports betting operators.
As part of delivering information sessions, ULIS participated in over 15 events in Africa, Latin America and Europe elaborating on the important activities it carries out. Themes covered: maintaining sport integrity and combatting match-fixing, and addressing related legal and anti-money laundering aspects. Additionally, ULIS organized its first Integrity Seminar in June, with the support of the International Olympic Committee, which attracted 70 participants from around the world.
Additional members and new global partnerships
Combatting global sports competition manipulation requires a united effort with as broad a network of committed and diverse stakeholders as possible. The ULIS network welcomed seven new members in 2023 and forged new partnerships agreements. These include with UEFA, to enhance information sharing and monitoring of betting patterns, and with CIBELAE to enhance cooperation, promote integrity best practices and contribute to ethical growth of the region’s betting market. As the only sports monitoring association to work with Conmebol, the South American Football Confederation, ULIS also attended Conmebol’s first integrity summit.
A new president and executive committee
Finally, in a year of significant change, the new Executive Committee and President were elected during the ULIS General Meeting, in Croatia, in June. Outgoing President, Ludovico Calvi, was acknowledged for his great dedication, and new President, Gilles Maillet, was welcomed. See the full Committee here.
