eSports
IBIA Publishes 2023 Integrity Report

2023 saw a fall in suspicious alerts globally and an increase in successful sanctions for sports betting violations
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), the leading global voice on integrity for the licensed sports betting industry, has published its 2023 sports betting integrity report.
The report highlights that the total number of suspicious sports betting alerts reported in 2023 fell to 184, which represents a decrease of 101, or 35%, on the revised 2022 figure of 285 alerts. The global alerts for 2023 are significantly below the average of 244 annual alerts for the period 2019 to 2022.
The report also highlights that IBIA’s suspicious betting activity data helped to prove that 74 matches were corrupted and found that there was an increase in the number of clubs, players and officials successfully sanctioned for violating sports betting rules.
When considering the number of alerts reported, it is important to recognise that IBIA’s ability to detect and deter suspicious betting activity has increased significantly in recent years; it now accounts for over US$137 billion of global betting turnover per annum, making IBIA the world’s leading operator-run integrity monitoring body.
These results confirm the importance of the legal requirement for regulated sports betting operators to join an international sports integrity monitoring body, increasingly imposed in well-regulated markets. That requirement was recently introduced in Brazil, which the 2023 report shows had the third highest number of suspicious betting alerts (11), behind the United Kingdom and the Czech Republic.
“The fall in last year’s global alert numbers is encouraging,” the Chief Executive Officer for the IBIA, Khalid Ali, said. “It confirms that our world-leading monitoring and alert network is making a very important contribution to deterring criminals from seeking to defraud our members and that increased collaboration between the IBIA, sports and regulators is a winning combination. Despite this progress, we must remain vigilant and recognize that the greatest threat to sports integrity comes from unregulated operators, most notably in Asia.”
IBIA uses suspicious betting activity data from its unique global monitoring network to help sports, regulators, policymakers and law enforcement to investigate and prosecute criminals. In 2023, IBIA alerts contributed to the investigations and subsequent successful sanctioning of 21 clubs, players and officials, an increase on the 15 sanctioned in 2022. Of the 21 sanctioned in 2023, there were eight tennis players, seven umpires and four snooker players.
In several of the cases, data from IBIA and its members helped contribute to significant sanctions, such as life bans, being issued. This collective action attests to the powerful impact of IBIA’s data and cross-sector partnership working.
In terms of individual sports, football was the sport with the majority of alerts with 63, with the number remaining relatively consistent over time, with 67 and 66 alerts reported in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
Tennis was the second most reported sport with 54 alerts. This represents a 49% decrease on the 2022 total of 106. On average, tennis alerts have been decreasing over the past years and for the first time the number of tennis alerts is below football.
“The ongoing decrease in tennis alerts along with notable reductions in table tennis and eSports is very encouraging,” Ali said. “IBIA will continue to work closely with the International Tennis Integrity Agency and other important partners in the sports sector to exchange information on suspicious betting and to support the prosecution of wrongdoing. The progress made in tennis over a number of years now demonstrates that successfully identifying and sanctioning match-fixing sends a powerful message to athletes and officials about the risks of engaging in match-fixing.”
The association publishes quarterly reports covering the integrity alerts reported through its monitoring and alert platform, which can be viewed here. IBIA can be contacted at Info @IBIA.bet.
eSports
DaNiAL, Tejas to Represent India at Prestigious WAVES Esports Championship Starting May 1

Danial “DaNiAL” Patel and Tejaskumar Hasmukhbhai Bhoi will represent Team India at the prestigious WAVES Esports Championship (WESC), organised by the Esports Federation of India (ESFI), in Mumbai’s Jio Convention Centre from May 1. The duo will clash against players from five foreign countries in the International leg after emerging victorious in the fiercely contested India leg of WESC 2025, which saw the top Phase winners battle it out for national supremacy.
From a field of over 35,000 participants, the Indian leg brought together the top eight players in two titles—eFootball and World Cricket Championship 3—from the four WESC 2025 phases. In an intense showdown, DaNiAL clinched the top spot in eFootball while Tejas outperformed his peers in WCC3. In the international leg, DaNiAL will face opponents from Malaysia, Laos, and Thailand in eFootball, while Tejas will compete against representatives from Nepal and Sri Lanka in WCC3.
Speaking on the occasion, ESFI President, Mr Lokesh Suji, said: “I am incredibly proud of DaNiAL and Tejas for earning the honour of representing India at the inaugural WAVES Esports Summit. WAVES has been instrumental in unearthing talent from every corner of the country. Their qualification reflects the rising calibre of Indian esports, and I’m confident they’ll make the nation proud on the international stage.”
Esports holds a significant place within the AVGC-XR pillar of the WAVES Summit, recognising the burgeoning gaming and competitive video gaming scene in India. This dynamic segment benefits from the global Summit’s impressive scale, anticipating over 5,000 delegates from 100 countries and the participation of more than 750 creators.
Amidst this vibrant setting, DaNiAL and Tejas will be honored with the WAVES Trophy on May 4, celebrating their triumph in the Indian leg. Joining them in recognition will be Love Sharma and Pappu Kumar Priyedarshi—who secured second and third place in WCC3—along with Akash Rudro Dhar and Pawan Kampelli, who rounded out the podium in eFootball. The overall international champions will be honoured with WESC Medals at the Creatosphere Award Ceremony on May 4.
On his triumph in the Indian leg and his preparations ahead, DaNiAL said: “I’m incredibly proud of this victory—it’s a testament to the hard work, discipline, and support from everyone around me. Winning here is just the beginning, and I’m excited to take this momentum into the international stage. My preparation for the international leg will be even more intense. I’ll be analyzing top players, refining my strategies, and staying mentally and physically sharp. This next step is huge, and I’m committed to giving it everything I have.”
Speaking on his qualification and the chance to represent India, Tejas said: “I feel very proud about qualifying for the finals in the waves. I will try to accept the opportunity that I have got to bring glory to India, and I will try my best to bring the trophy to India. I am ready for the finals. The preparations are intense. I will come back after winning.”
As the governing body for esports in India, ESFI has been instrumental in shaping the country’s competitive gaming landscape. With a track record that includes the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Esports Championship, and affiliations with leading global bodies, ESFI now proudly hosts WESC as part of its commitment to putting India on the international esports map.
The post DaNiAL, Tejas to Represent India at Prestigious WAVES Esports Championship Starting May 1 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup Foundation Launches ‘Music of EWC’ Initiative with Recording at Legendary Abbey Road Studios to Connect Esports Fans Around the World Through the Power of Music
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the launch of ‘Music of EWC,’ a new initiative that will create an original musical identity for the Esports World Cup 2025, the world’s largest esports and gaming festival, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24. The multi-stage program kicked off on Sunday, April 27, with the recording of a four-track music suite at the legendary Abbey Road Studios featuring original compositions by acclaimed music development collectives 2WEI and Hollywood Scoring.
The EWCF now invites the global music community to take part in shaping the sound of the EWC 2025 through an open competition on Audiotool, a leading cloud-based music creation platform. Two winning tracks will be selected and added to the official EWC music suite, joining the professional works recorded at Abbey Road. The full soundtrack will be featured across tournament broadcasts, on-site events, and digital content during the seven-week event this summer. The inaugural EWC 2024 recorded over 250 million hours watched, reaching more than 500 million viewers and welcomed 2.6 million visitors to Riyadh’s Boulevard City.
“At its core, the Esports World Cup is about community – a global platform that connects people and elevates talent in all forms,” said Mike McCabe, Chief Operating Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Music of EWC is a natural extension of that purpose, built on the same passion, creativity, and collaboration that define gaming and competition. Music and esports both bring people together, they let us feel the same rhythm, the same energy, wherever we are. With Music of EWC, we’re creating our own voice, sharing a universal language that tells the story of our sport and defines the role of esports in global culture.”
Studio One at Abbey Road, the birthplace of iconic albums for Pink Floyd, Adele and more; films such as Star Wars, Avengers: Endgame, Across The Spiderverse, and games such as Halo, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, World of Warcraft, and more, hosted the initial recording session, bringing together two of gaming’s most respected music collaborators. 2WEI, known for producing some of the most popular anthems in League of Legends, and campaigns for Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Call of Duty, and Hollywood Scoring, recognized for its work on the Star Wars films, Riot Games’ Arcane, and Disney Parks, will each contribute two original tracks to anchor the suite.
“Music of EWC” marks the beginning of a long-term investment by EWCF in music as a universal language that elevates the storytelling, emotion, and drama of competition. By combining professionally recorded music at one of the most iconic studios in the world with community-created works, the EWCF is building a new platform that celebrates the evolving sound of esports and helps shape the cultural identity of the Esports World Cup.
In addition, to support emerging talent from across the globe, two winning tracks from the Audiotool competition will be selected by industry judges to join the suite and debut during the Esports World Cup this summer. The winners will also receive 25 limited-edition vinyls of their track and a one-year LANDR Studio subscription –an opportunity that could launch careers in gaming and entertainment. Submissions must be original, under a Creative Commons license, and are open until 8 June 2025 at ewc.audiotool.com.
“Partnering with the Esports World Cup, the world’s biggest esports and gaming festival, is a unique opportunity to spotlight new talent on a global stage,” said Andreas Jacobi, CEO of Audiotool. “Together with EWCF, we’re proud to help emerging artists bring their music into esports – a space that’s rapidly reshaping the future of entertainment – and share their work with a global audience as part of a cultural moment that connects creativity, community, and competition.”
The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion. The tournament’s unique cross-game format will reward Clubs and players competing for a life-changing prize pool across a mix of platforms and genres, bringing together esports’ best teams, players and games under one banner in the largest-ever celebration of esports.
The post Esports World Cup Foundation Launches ‘Music of EWC’ Initiative with Recording at Legendary Abbey Road Studios to Connect Esports Fans Around the World Through the Power of Music appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Oddin.gg Powers Coolbet’s Esports Betting Expansion with Market-Leading Solutions

Coolbet has partnered with Oddin.gg to enhance its esports coverage, starting with the integration of Oddin.gg’s Odds Feed to deliver a best-in-class experience to bettors across almost all of its active markets.
The collaboration marks a strategic milestone for both companies, built on shared goals of innovation, reliability, and long-term growth.
This multi-year partnership supports Coolbet’s global expansion strategy by incorporating Oddin.gg’s industry-leading solutions to deliver scalable, high-quality esports betting coverage. Both teams are aligned in their focus on operational excellence and collaboration beyond day-to-day delivery—including upcoming joint education initiatives and local engagement programs. Since going live in late 2024, the integration has already delivered measurable results—most notably an 80% increase in GGR from November 2024 to March 2025.
Coolbet selected Oddin.gg following a comprehensive evaluation of several providers, prioritizing long-term reliability and product quality. The decision reflects Oddin.gg’s ability to consistently deliver scalable solutions and trusted performance in fast-moving, regulated markets.
“Working with Oddin.gg has exceeded our expectations, both in terms of product performance and the relationship itself,” said Christian Erlandsson, Director of Sports at Coolbet. “We’ve seen a strong impact since launch, and we’ve appreciated how smooth and responsive their team has been. What’s been especially refreshing is that we’re already moving beyond day-to-day operations to explore new ways of working together—like joint industry panels and knowledge-sharing initiatives.”
“Coolbet is an ambitious and forward-thinking partner. From the very start, they were clear about what they wanted to achieve, and it’s been a pleasure to support their growth with our solutions,” added Marek Suchar, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Oddin.gg. “We’re proud to share that Oddin.gg was selected over other providers based on product quality and vision.
And as we deepen this collaboration, we’re excited about what we can build together—not just in terms of numbers, but in how esports betting is delivered to Coolbet’s end users.”
The post Oddin.gg Powers Coolbet’s Esports Betting Expansion with Market-Leading Solutions appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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