Sportradar Reports Surge in North American Match-Fixing Despite Global Decline
Global match-fixing declined slightly in 2025, but North and Central America moved in the opposite direction, recording a sharp rise in suspicious betting activity that underscores a shifting threat landscape for sports integrity.
A new integrity report from Sportradar shows suspicious matches worldwide fell 1% year-over-year, yet activity rose sharply in North and Central America. The company attributes the increase in North America, Central America, and Africa to a “gradual diversification of match-fixing activity beyond traditional European strongholds.”
North and Central America recorded 84 suspicious matches — nearly double 2024 levels and one of the largest year-over-year increases globally. By contrast, Europe fell to 385 cases (down 66) and South America dropped to 183 (down 64), while Asia rose modestly to 351 and Africa increased to 113.
Overall, Sportradar flagged 1,116 suspicious matches across 12 sports and 94 countries in 2025 while monitoring more than one million events.
Several high-profile cases surfaced in the U.S. recently, underscoring how integrity risks are increasingly intersecting with regulated betting markets.
A federal indictment unsealed last month revealed point-shaving in NCAA Division I men’s college basketball as recently as January 2025. Players accepted bribes to manipulate performances across dozens of games involving multiple teams.
In October, authorities arrested Miami Heat point guard Terry Rozier for allegedly leaving a game early so bettors could cash prop bets.
Two Cleveland Guardians players also allegedly manipulated pitches during games so bettors could win similar wagers. Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz now face charges, with the former allegedly rigging pitches in at least 48 games.
Sportradar Improving Its Detection Methods
Sportradar’s report outlined how it increasingly relies on its AI-powered Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS AI) to identify irregular betting patterns. The system combines existing fraud detection tools with machine learning models that scan vast volumes of wagering data in real time.
AI-identified suspicious matches jumped to 682 from 432, reflecting what Sportradar described as greater sensitivity to subtle and niche manipulation.
Sportradar also launched the Integrity Exchange (SIE) in January 2025, allowing operators to share intelligence in real time.
Prevention remains a primary focus. More than 34,000 people received integrity education in 2025, marking a 25% year-on-year increase. Sportradar also supported 125 sanctions across seven sports during the year.
The company also flagged emerging threats, including “lone wolf” actors who use cryptocurrency and Telegram to carry out illegal activity. Sportradar notes that these individuals often collaborate opportunistically, which makes detection more difficult due to inconsistent patterns and weak connections.
Match-fixers are also adapting to tighter bookmaker limits — particularly in Asia — by reselling inside information or spreading activity across larger account networks.
Biggest Sports for Match Fixers
Soccer remains the most targeted sport, with 618 incidents in 2025. Basketball followed with 233 cases, while tennis recorded 78. In total, 12 sports were affected across 94 countries.
Live betting was involved in 77% of suspicious soccer matches. In those cases, 71% of activity occurred in the first half. Combined final results drove 41% of the suspicious markets.
In basketball, over/under totals accounted for 49% of suspicious activity, followed by spreads at 35%. These trends mirror U.S. enforcement cases, including indictments involving 39 college players accused of engaging in or facilitating point shaving. Players manipulate margins so spread bets win rather than outright throw games.
While global figures show modest improvement, North America’s spike illustrates how quickly criminal networks adapt as regulated betting expands. As betting expands and technology evolves, regulators, leagues, and integrity firms face mounting pressure to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated manipulation tactics.
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