Ottawa – April 27, 2023 – The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and McLaren Global Sport Solutions (MGSS), with support from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), are hosting a symposium with an intensive program that explores the threat of competition manipulation and gambling to Canadian sport. The goal of the 2023 Symposium on Competition Manipulation and Gambling in Sport is to develop a common way forward that will benefit sport and the gaming industry, as well as a comprehensive national program for all national and multi-sport organizations to adopt. The symposium has attracted registrants from around the world to gather in Toronto, Canada, on May 30-31.
The legalization of single-sport betting in Canada in 2021 triggered major changes to the domestic sport gambling landscape. With more betting comes the increased likelihood of competition manipulation and other threats to sport integrity. At the symposium, speakers and panelists will present strategies used in other markets, share best practices, and explore approaches to protecting Canadian sport. The program features world-renowned experts and leaders from Canadian, international and professional sport, technology, the gambling industry, responsible gaming, law enforcement, and more.
According to Sportradar Integrity Services’ annual review of data gathered by their Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS), Betting Corruption and Match-Fixing in 2022, they detected a 34% increase in suspicious matches from 2021. In total, 1,212 suspicious matches were detected in 92 countries on five continents, and across 12 sports – clearly demonstrating the global nature of the issue. A “suspicious match” indicates a betting irregularity was detected and the potential that the match, or an element of it, was manipulated. Many provincial regulators and betting operators, who both play an essential role in ensuring suspicious betting activity is reported, will attend the symposium, signaling their support for a sport gambling system that protects both athletes and consumers.
“Competition manipulation is emerging as a real threat to Canadian sport and it’s time to implement protective strategies before it’s too late. As sport leaders and integrity experts, we have the desire to protect athletes and sport organizations from the impacts of competition manipulation – what we need now is a collective process that will keep participants safe and preserve the integrity of sport,” says Jeremy Luke, president and CEO of the CCES.
“We are pleased to be co-hosting this important symposium. The threat of competition manipulation has grown in Canada over the last three years with the rise in on-line betting and the legalization of single-game betting. It is incumbent on all participants, be they government, industry, sports or athletes, to educate themselves on the risks and the issues at play to protect the integrity of sport,” says Richard McLaren, MGSS CEO.
“Sport has to be protected from manipulation,” Eric Myles, Chief Sport Officer of the COC, says. “The safety of participants is our first priority, but when we think of what safe means, we often don’t consider the risk posed by match manipulation. We hope this symposium will be an important step towards protecting all sport participants, public, and fans from competition manipulation.”
In 2019, the CCES and MGSS hosted the first-ever Canadian symposium to address the issues of competition manipulation and gambling in sport, which resulted in five recommendations to mitigate the potential for competition manipulation in Canada.
Symposium details
May 30-31, 2023
Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto, Canada
Symposium website: www.ethicalsportsymposium.ca
Special rates are available for national and multi-sport organizations, athletes, and students and representatives from post-secondary academic institutions. Register now.
Media passes are available upon request.
About the CCES
The CCES works collaboratively to ensure Canadians have a positive sport experience. Through its programs, the CCES manages unethical issues in sport, protects the integrity of Canadian sport, and promotes True Sport to activate values-based sport on and off the field of play. The CCES is an independent, national, not-for profit organization that is responsible for the administration of the Canadian Anti-Doping Program. The CCES acknowledges funding, in part, from the Government of Canada. For more information, visit cces.ca, follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
About MGSS
MGSS ensures leading industry solutions and best practices to sports clients specifically focused on implementing strong sport management infrastructure. MGSS is a highly specialized sport consulting firm focused on mitigating risks related to ethics and governance within organizations. Our mission is to help sports organizations protect and enhance their brand, navigate difficult organizational issues related to ethics, governance and integrity, and inform strategic business decisions. Visit www.mclarenglobalsportsolutions.com.