The national risk assessment on the manipulation of sports competitions in Finland has been published in 2024 under the supervision of the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports in a National Platform set by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The purpose of the risk assessment is to identify the risks and vulnerabilities related to Finnish sports that play a key role in the prevention of manipulation of sports competitions.
The national risk assessment of competition manipulation is relevant as a tool for management and decision-making, as manipulation of sports competitions is a threat to sports organisations, to the reputation of sports and to sport itself. The information obtained through the preparation of the risk assessment can be used to significantly develop measures to combat the phenomenon.
With regard to the risk assessment, it is essential to identify both risk-increasing and risk-reducing factors. The risk assessment contributes to laying the foundations for the prevention of manipulation of sports competitions programmes required of the sports federations and assists in training and communication.
Convention of the Council of Europe
Article 5 of the Convention of the Council of Europe defines the assessment and management of risks. According to the article, the contracting parties must define, analyse and assess the risks associated with the manipulation of sports competitions, where appropriate, in co-operation with sports organisations, sports betting operators, competition organisers and other relevant organisations. In addition, the contracting parties must encourage sports organisations, sports betting operators, competition organisers and other relevant organisations to draw up procedures and rules to combat the manipulation of sports competitions and, where appropriate, to take legislative or other measures necessary for this purpose.
Australian model
In the informal network of national platforms against manipulation of sports competitions, the Group of Copenhagen, it has been agreed that efforts will be made to draw up national risk assessments in the same way at the international level, in accordance with the so-called Australian model. The model is based on the risk assessment used by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the risk assessment method developed by the Canadian Mounted Police. The risk assessment scores the risk factors that threaten sports, including international and illegal betting, international sports connections, the ability of sports to recognise threats to integrity and the commercial exploitation of sports for criminal activities.
Preparation of the national risk assessment
The first risk assessment concerning manipulation of sports competitions was issued by the National Platform in 2021. The risk assessment has been updated in 2024, with the information mainly based on statements from the members of the National Platform, as well as statements from the Finnish Coaches Association, Finnish Sports Bettors’ Association and the athlete panel of the Athletes of Finland. In addition, the sports organisations’ national risk assessments, which they have carried out when drafting their Fair Competition programmes, have played a significant role in the preparation of the national risk assessment. The amount of bets placed on Finnish sports is based on data provided by Sportradar.
Conclusions
There has been a lot of fruitful co-operation between different stakeholders to detect and combat manipulation of sports competitions. That work must continue in the future. However, limitations in the exchange of information between the sports community, the authorities and the national betting company create obstacles to a more effective fight against competition manipulation. In addition, the shortcomings in the Criminal Code, particularly in relation to sports fraud, have been identified as a problem. Manipulation is harmful to sports, regardless of whether it is carried out by individual sports stakeholders or organised crime. The Fair Competition Programme for sports organisations has improved the ability of the sports community to identify competition manipulation, which has led to a higher number of reports to FINCIS. Some of the reports have involved judged sports which do not involve betting to a significant extent or at all. The responsibility for dealing with such suspicions and cases lies with sports organisations. Co-operation with international betting monitoring companies has provided information on, among other things, irregular betting in amateur football series in 2023 and 2024. Suspicions of manipulation related to possible betting fraud have been dealt with by the National Platform and have led to requests for investigation by the police. In the same context, the Football Association of Finland has announced that it has referred to the disciplinary authority an allegation of competition manipulation involving three clubs, with international connections and organised activities involved in the case.
Recommendations
The National Platform was of the opinion that, in line with the preliminary report on the gambling system, the reform should define the supervisory authority, its tasks and its powers. In addition, sufficient resources must be allocated to both the supervisory authority and FINCIS, and the smooth exchange of information related to co-operation must be ensured, both between the supervisory authority and FINCIS and in the National Platform. Attention should also be paid to sufficient policing resources to prevent manipulation of sports competitions, especially in terms of the prevention of money laundering. To ensure effective preliminary investigations, national legislation must be adequate in accordance with Article 5 of the Macolin Convention.
The supervisory authority must have sufficient and centralised powers to obtain from licence holders all the information necessary for the investigation and prosecution of offences related to sports fraud. The licence terms must also specify with sufficient accuracy the specifications and limitations of different bets.
In connection with the gambling reform, it would be important to discuss and ultimately ratify the Macolin Convention, as it is closely linked to the reform, particularly through online betting, and in order to implement effective prevention of competition manipulation. The Macolin Convention contains a number of requirements, including substantive co-operation related to criminal law and enforcement, jurisdiction, criminal procedure, enforcement measures, sanctions and measures that interface with revisions required by the gambling reform.