KSA provides new integrity guidelines to help reduce match-fixing risk

The Dutch Gambling Authority (KSA) has introduced the Commitment to Integrity guidelines to help reduce the risk of match-fixing in sports betting and provide licensed entities with the required tools to comply with all obligations under the Gambling Act.

"In response to our own research and suggestions from permit holders, the Wwft Guidelines were published in 2023. One of the changes at the time was the removal of the chapter 'Manipulation of matches' from the Wwft Guideline," KSA said within its release.

"Since that time, the KSA has conducted further research into the integrity of sports betting, for example in the field of the risk analysis of matches and the obligation to report to the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit and the sports associations."

Prior to unveiling the new guidelines, KSA collaborated with various stakeholders, including online sports betting operators and industry associations.

The consultations revealed a "lack of clarity" in the risk analysis of sports competitions, the prohibited betting offer and licencees' reporting obligation.

The Gambling Authority stated it "received signals" over the past 12 months regarding prohibited betting offers, including certain matches, competitions or options which are not allowed under current regulation.

With the introduction of its Commitment to Integrity guidelines, the KSA "expects to no longer" receive notices of potential violations concerning match-fixing.

The Commitment to Integrity guidelines serve as a 22-page document outlining how to define match-fixing within sports betting, the duty of operators to report any findings and the responsibilities of the country's Sports Betting Intelligence Unit.

KSA stated the "old guidelines," such as those established within Wwft, are also included within the new programme, and believe that by "setting up the gambling offer as well as possible," it is taking the necessary steps to help prevent future match-fixing.