Manipulation of sport competitions means an intentional arrangement, act or omission aimed at an improper alteration of the result or the course of a sport competition in order to remove the unpredictable nature of the aforementioned sport competition with a view to obtaining an undue advantage for oneself or for others. Most of the time, manipulation of sports competitions is about money.
Manipulation of sports competitions may be based on betting or sports. The aim of betting-related manipulation is to obtain direct or indirect financial returns through betting. Direct financial return refers to the amount of money obtained through betting and indirect financial return refers to the benefit obtained, for example, through money laundering. The aim of sports-based manipulation is to gain a competitive advantage through unfair means. The goal may be, for example, to win or lose a meaningful match or to avoid relegation or gain promotion.
Frequency of manipulation of sports competitions
The prevalence of manipulation of sports competitions is difficult to estimate accurately as, like other criminal and dishonest activities, most cases of manipulation of sports competitions take place in disguise. This phenomenon is known as hidden criminality. The prevalence of manipulation of sports competitions in Finland has been assessed in the risk assessment published by the National Platform against Manipulation of Sports Competitions in 2024.
International betting markets
The increase in manipulation of sports competitions has led in particular to the growth of sports betting as a major economic activity. Currently, it is possible to place bets on all types of competitions and sports anywhere in the world any time of the day. In the 2020s, cash flows in sports betting amounted to hundreds of billions of euros.
In addition to regulated and legal sports betting, illegal markets have also grown significantly in recent years. The strong growth of the sports betting market also attracts criminals and criminal organisations. The majority of illegal betting takes place in South and East Asia.
Sports related to manipulation of sports competitions
Manipulation of sports competitions takes place in both amateur and professional sports. Most of the cases of manipulation in Europe and the Nordic countries are targeted at lower leagues and smaller competitions. Internationally known cases have occurred in the recent years, especially in football, but also, for example, in tennis, cricket, equestrian sports, motor sport, handball, rugby and basketball.
In Finland, cases of betting-related manipulation have emerged especially in the 2000s. Cases that have come to light in recent years are largely concentrated in football.
Consequences of the manipulation of sports competitions
Manipulation of sports competitions is considered to be a particularly harmful phenomenon in sports due to its direct effect on the basic values of sports, such as unpredictability and unexpectedness If confidence in the unpredictable nature of sport is undermined, this causes a credibility problem at the heart of the whole sport. This means that the manipulation can have a long-term impact on sports and sports organisations. These problems are mainly accumulated on the economic side, as the size of sponsorship revenues, TV rights, advertising revenues and ticketing revenues largely depends on the opinion of audiences and the public. Manipulation of sports competitions is widely regarded as reprehensible.
Manipulation of sports competitions risk factors
Studies have identified various risk factors that may predispose to manipulation of sports competitions. Economic factors, such as payroll problems, have been identified as having a significant impact on manipulation of sports competitions. With regard to the level of competition, the highest risk of manipulation of sports competitions appears to be at the lowest league levels, where remuneration levels are low and supervision is poor. It has also been found that top athletes are susceptible to gambling and thus to gambling problems.
Prevention of manipulation of sports competitions
The prevention of manipulation of sports competitions is a key part of FINCIS’ activities. In Finland, the prevention of manipulation of sports competitions includes co-operation between the sports community, the government-owned betting company, the police and judicial authorities. In 2020, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture appointed an advisory board of sport ethics, which functions as a coordination and co-operation body between the various administrative sectors and stakeholders in sports. The advisory board aims to promote sports ethics and the enactment of any related international agreements.
The advisory board has appointed a National Platform to act as the national contact point under the Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions. The methods of preventing manipulation of sports competitions can be divided into three themes, which are rules and legislation, raising awareness and improving and monitoring resources and intelligence and investigations. The international nature of manipulation of sports competitions requires both national and transnational co-operation in combating it.
Gambling reform
Restrictions on the exchange of information between the sports community and authorities as well as the national betting company is currently the biggest obstacle to more effective prevention of competition manipulation in Finland. In addition, the shortcomings in the Criminal Code, particularly in relation to sports fraud, have been identified as a problem. The National Platform has estimated that with the forthcoming licencing system, the increased offering of online betting in more sports and at different tiers will mean an increase in the risk of competition manipulation in Finnish sport in general.
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.