The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has joined forces with the Colombian Federation of Entrepreneurs of Games of Luck and Chance (FECOLJUEGOS) in order to promote a greater sense of sports betting integrity in the South American nation.
The Memorandum of Understanding signed by both will aim to protect against fraud and to fortify the integrity of both sports and betting companies.
IBIA has a strong reputation when it comes to upholding decent betting practices. Cumulatively, within a year the body monitors over $137bn in betting transactions. As well, its members play a vital role in encouraging and supporting investigations and prosecutions, seeking to sanction those malefactors who would involve themselves in such nefarious activities as match fixing.
Its efforts are not in vain. In last year alone, the IBIA reported activities that led to 11 sporting or criminal sanctions against teams or players. In Latin America, between 2017 and 2021, 121 warnings were issued by the IBIA to the pertinent authorities.
On the new partnership deal, IBIA CEO Khalid Ali commented: “We are happy to collaborate with FECOLJUEGOS on common projects in the fight against match fixing. The establishment of the Colombian National Committee for the prevention of manipulation of sports competitions is the first of its kind in the Latin American region.
“FECOLJUEGOS played an important role in its launch and we fully support the call for integrity provisions to be included in the gambling legislation.”
At FECOLJUEGOS, this sentiment was echoed. Said President Evert Montero Cárdenas: “With great expectation we receive this memorandum which establishes an agreement of wills. We believe that this is an important step to shield activity from irregular practices that have affected it for years.”
