Sweden’s Svenska Spel has partnered with five major sporting federations in the country for a new initiative to tackle match-fixing.  

The state-controlled operator, along with Sweden’s E-Sports Association, Ice Hockey Association, Tennis Association and Football Association, have contributed to the ‘Min Match’ – or ‘My Match’ in English – campaign alongside the country’s National Sports Confederation and management agency SISU Sports Trainers. 

The initiative aims to “counteract the culture of silence” around match-fixing, giving athletes and those associated with sport the space to report any instances of wrongdoing without fear of the consequences.

The campaign will consist of a series of short films desigined to educate people about match-fixing.  

These will be shown at high/gymnasium schools and referee meetings across the country, as well as being broadcast across social media.

Svenska Spel president and CEO Anna Johnson said: “To successfully fight match-fixing, we must stand united. As a betting company, it is important that we share our expertise, so that together we can protect the sport and its players.  

“It feels very positive that today, together with sports, we can present a joint initiative that we believe will increase knowledge and make it easier for active players to dare to report suspected match-fixing.” 

Anna Iwarsson, president of the Swedish Sports Confederation and SISU Sports Trainers, added: “Match-fixing is one of the biggest threats to sport and we need to do everything we can to stop it. We in the sports movement have enormous strength when we stand united.  

“When we together say no to criminals, we make it extremely difficult for them to operate and earn money at the expense of the sports associations.” 

In May, the Swedish government pledged further funding to combat manipulation of sport, including an additional SEK111m to tackle match-fixing.

The government also announced greater sharing of information between operators, sporting bodies and the regulator, the Swedish Gambling Authority, to spot irregular betting activity.

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) recorded 90 suspicious betting alerts in Q2 2024, with esports matches accounting for 54% of the red flags raised.

Meanwhile, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reported 19 suspicious tennis betting alerts for the same period. 

The post Svenksa Spel joins sporting bodies in Swedish anti-match-fixing coalition  first appeared on EGR Intel.