CPL first to benefit from CA$300,000 education fund commitment by IBIA’s regulated sports betting operators

Canadian Premier League (CPL) soccer teams have successfully completed a sports betting integrity player education program. Designed by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) using its 3R’s training model, the program has utilised a combination of dedicated in-person training and online resources, with sessions delivered by the Professional Footballers’ Association Canada (PFA Canada) through its Protecting the Integrity of the Game workshops.

In total, nearly 200 players have been trained by the IBIA/PFA Canada partnership at all eight CPL teams through the program, which started in Ontario and finished in Alberta, also covering teams in Nova Scotia, Manitoba and British Colombia. It concludes the first part of a two-year player education agreement between IBIA and PFA Canada.

Marco Carducci, Cavalry FC & President of PFA Canada, said: “The IBIA sports betting integrity training, in partnership with PFA Canada, was an incredibly beneficial experience for our players. Effective and easy-to-understand, it made clear what professional athletes need to know about sports betting integrity and how to report attempted corruption. We are grateful for IBIA’s support to help safeguard the integrity of the game and to protect and educate our players.”

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In addition to highlighting the potential threats from sports betting related match-fixing, the program educated players on rules and sanctions, the scale and accuracy of technology enabled sports integrity monitoring, and how to report criminals and corrupters using the red button app.

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA said: “We take our responsibility to protect regulated sports betting markets, sports and athletes seriously. Decades of experience has shown that a combination of efficient regulation, education and collaboration are essential to safeguarding the sports integrity ecosystem. We are delighted that the PFA Canada education program has been so successful and look forward to year two of the project.”

Dan Kruk, Executive Director, PFA Canada, said: “Through our work with IBIA, nearly 200 Canadian Premier League players attended PFA Canada’s Protecting the Integrity of the Game workshop this season. As a result, stakeholders can be confident our members know their obligations regarding gambling and match-fixing in their sport, how to recognize an approach to fix a match, and crucially, their duty to report any person attempting to manipulate a match.”

The program is the first to be delivered from a CA$300,000 three-year fund – invested by IBIA and its members bet365, Betway and FanDuel – from which Canadian sports and athletes can receive free face-to-face integrity education designed to protect Canadian sports from the potential threat of match manipulation and corruption.

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WA.Technology, the award-winning B2B solutions provider, is excited to announce its entry into the rapidly expanding Peruvian gaming market after receiving the necessary certifications from the country’s gambling regulator, Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo (MINCETUR).

Already recognised as the most sought-after B2B solutions provider for LatAm, the award-winning provider is now bringing its iGaming expertise to operators across Peru, having already partnered with the majority of the continent’s biggest brands.

In total, WA.Technology offers its LatAm partners a full spectrum of iGaming solutions via its WA.Platform, WA.Sports, WA.Casino, WA.Fantasy, WA.Affiliates and WA.Lottery verticals.

With WA.Technology boasting multiple regional offices across the continent, the provider has now stated a firm commitment to ensuring that its Peru operator partners will be given the best of its technology to gain local market share.

These include its latest lottery platform, with players able to access more than 70 of the world’s biggest lottery formats, Highly popular Lottery games from the USA will also be available, such as Powerball and Megamillions, reaching in excess of $1bn.

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In addition, local operators will be able to harness WA.Technology’s latest Fantasy Sports and its US-inspired Pick’Em Play Props offering, which is being rolled out imminently to big-name operators across the continent.

Designed for players to unleash their sporting expertise across Daily Fantasy Sports and Free-to-Play predictor games, both represent a tried and tested acquisition tool for LatAm operators to boost engagement, retention and cross-selling opportunities.

Local partners will also be able to access WA.Technology’s latest WA.Affiliates vertical, designed to transform LatAm operators’ player-focused marketing and customer acquisition strategies.

Featuring affiliate tracking features, performance tracking software, and the option to introduce gamification, WA.Affiliates represents an unparalleled acquisition tool for operators to reach new audiences and drive traffic back to casinos and sportsbooks.

Commenting on the company’s launch in Peru, Axel Antillon, Regional Director LatAm at WA.Technology, said: “Peru represents a significant opportunity for WA.Technology; we are very excited to be embarking on this new journey! The country’s growing appetite for gaming and entertainment-led experiences aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver LatAm’s best gaming products.

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“By entering the Peruvian market, we’re able to support local operators in enhancing their player experience, improving operational efficiency, and ultimately, growing their business. We look forward to becoming a trusted partner to the region’s operators as we establish a long-term presence here.”

Since regulations were introduced in October 2023, Peru has been pinpointed as one of LatAm’s major growth markets by industry experts.

Reports project the market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% between 2023 and 2031, largely driven by increased digital adoption and growing demand for online entertainment.

MINCETUR, Peru’s regulator, estimates that approximately Sol3.8 billion (€1bn) in bets was placed in 2022, with online gaming and sports betting estimated to produce Sol162m (€40.6m) a year in taxes for the state.

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The American Gaming Association (AGA), European Casino Association (ECA), and the Betting & Gaming Council (BGC) announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that marks the beginning of a collaboration grounded in shared industry values and priorities. The MOU formalizes a commitment among the three associations to address key issues facing the global gaming industry including illegal gambling, responsible gaming, innovation, and security.

“This new partnership is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to advance the legal gaming industry and protect consumers around the globe. By sharing our unique resources, we will expand our fight against illegal gambling to new fronts, work together to strengthen responsible gaming, and innovate around business best practices,” said AGA President and CEO Bill Miller.

“By fostering dialogue and cooperation across borders, the AGA, ECA, and BGC are taking a proactive approach to safeguarding the integrity of the legal gaming industry and ensuring its continued growth and success,” Miller added.

The MOU will create a platform for undertaking joint research projects and bringing each organization’s staff and members together to share expertise.

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“The European Casino Association stands united with the AGA and BGC in its commitment to addressing the key issues facing all gaming industry stakeholders. The ECA fully backs this initiative and supports the ongoing efforts to rigorously combat illegality within our industry, continuously strengthen player protections and security, and ensure the creation of an environment that fosters innovation and growth within the gaming community. On behalf of the ECA, I look forward to participating in the forthcoming law enforcement roundtable and to sharing the benefits of these learnings with our members,” said Erwin van Lambaart, Chairman of the European Casino Association.

Betting and Gaming Council CEO Grainne Hurst said: “This partnership marks a new chapter in our shared vision to build a world-class, trusted and sustainable betting and gaming industry. BGC members are rightly proud of their reputation as global leaders, and they know the power of collaboration. Working together with the AGA and ECA, I am confident our shared knowledge and expertise will be vital to bolstering safer gambling standards while tackling the threat of the growing and unsafe unregulated gambling black market in the UK.”

The first initiative under this MOU will be a law enforcement roundtable focused on combating illegal gambling. Scheduled for January 2025, this roundtable will bring together industry leaders, law enforcement officials, and regulators to discuss the impact of illegal gambling on legal operators, consumer safety, and the global financial system. The session will also explore strategies for enhancing cross-jurisdictional communication and developing actionable solutions to address these challenges.