Cases of Potential Match-Fixing in the Netherlands Spiked in 2024

The Netherlands has reported a spike in potential instances of match-fixing in 2024. The Dutch gambling regulator, Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), published its Match-Fixing Trend Analysis for 2024, highlighting disconcerting figures.

The Number of Reports Spiked

According to the KSA’s report, its Sports Betting Intelligence Unit received a total of 13 reports from its licensees in 2024. This is more than double the 6 reports submitted in 2023. That year, for context, had marked a drastic decline in reports from 2022.

The KSA clarified that the 13 reports it received from eight of its license holders concerned suspicious betting patterns and striking changes in odds. As a result, the KSA issued 4 warnings. The official warnings were issued in mid-2024 to an unnamed operator or operators.

The KSA explained that although the spike in reports could be worrisome at first glance, it might also signify that operators are taking their duties to report such instances more seriously than before. Of course, the KSA also acknowledged that this might also mean that instances of match-fixing have simply increased, or a mix of both.

Whatever the case, the KSA vowed to double down on its efforts to enforce its rules and make licensees follow their legal obligations. Licensed gaming companies in the Netherlands, for context, must immediately inform the KSA of any potentially suspicious activity they have identified.

The KSA will continue to conduct its own monitoring too.

KSA Wants to Make Sure Its Licensees Are Preventing Fraud

The KSA emphasized that it has no legal task to detect match-fixing, it is its job to examine its licensees and make sure that their safeguards are sufficient to prevent fraud.

To that end, the KSA formed the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, which is tasked with dealing with match-fixing reports.

Court Upholds License Rejection, KSA Speaks Out Against Recent Proposals

In other news, the KSA just scored a victory in court against an unnamed Malta-based operator. The operator in question had applied for a Dutch license several years ago. However, its application was ultimately rejected after the KSA discovered that it had intentionally withheld information related to its ties to a suspect in the murder of a popular investigative journalist.

Back then, the applicant launched legal proceedings against the KSA, hoping to overturn its decision. However, the court in Hague ended up siding with the regulator.

Earlier this month, Dutch lawmakers proposed introducing stricter regulations in the Netherlands, including restricting certain riskier gambling products to customers above 21. However, the KSA expressed certain concerns about this proposal since it might end up pushing younger people to the black market.

Players aged 18 to 21 generally boast better computer skills and could likely easily find an alternative if the legal market becomes too restrictive. At the same time, young adults are considered to be a more impressionable group and therefore run a greater risk of being harmed by unregulated offshore companies.