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A remarkable commitment has been announced by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) in collaboration with member operators Betway, bet365, and FanDuel. This collective dedication is set to bring a new level of support for Canadian athletes by instituting an extensive athlete education program. A promising investment of no less than CA$300,000 spanning across the next three years has been pledged by these funding partners. This initiative intends to equip athletes against the imminent threat posed by match-fixing and fraud linked to sports betting.
This significant announcement was unveiled during the prestigious “Symposium on Competition Manipulation and Gambling in Sport”. The event, held in Toronto, was jointly sponsored by IBIA, Betway, bet365, and FanDuel, and saw the attendance of key representatives from major Canadian and US sports. Among the attendees were individuals from the NFL, NBA, NHL, CFL, and CPL, as well as Hockey Canada. The guest list also featured significant stakeholders from the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission, along with representatives from national and provisional governments and licensing and regulatory authorities.
Efforts are in full swing among the project’s funding partners to finalize a delivery body. The rollout of the program is slated for the latter half of this year, incorporating numerous dimensions such as face-to-face athlete training, an e-learning portal, an anonymous reporting app, and resources aimed at raising awareness.
In his opening keynote speech, Jean-Francois Reymond, a former professional basketball player and Vice-President of the World Players Association, introduced the project. Serving as IBIA’s Education Ambassador, he has been instrumental in sports integrity education from the get-go. Reymond emphasized, “Our objective is to build a best-in-class program for all athletes that serves to protect the integrity of Canadian sport and the careers of Canada’s athletes.”
Anthony Werkman, Betway’s CEO, enthusiastically stated, “We are thrilled to pledge our commitment towards developing a practical athlete education program in Canada, working hand in hand with our partners. As a global brand, our vow to counter any form of betting corruption is both international and local. We anticipate collaborating with other members to shape a promising future for both sports organizations and regulators.”
Echoing this sentiment, Dale Hooper, GM of FanDuel Canada, reaffirmed their commitment towards sports integrity, asserting that maintaining it is crucial for players’ safety and enjoyment.
Khalid Ali, the CEO of IBIA, applauded the dedication of its members like bet365, Betway, and FanDuel towards sports betting education. He expressed his excitement about the potential positive impact of the project on the integrity of Canadian sport and the athletes.
The IBIA, a not-for-profit association, stands as the world’s largest operator-run betting integrity monitoring body. Representing the majority of betting operators licensed in Ontario, including Betway, bet365, and FanDuel, it oversees approximately CA$185 billion in annual wagers from over 120 sports betting brands.