March 20 – The United Soccer League, operator of professional tier two and three leagues in the US, has boosted its protection against match-fixing and betting related-fraud via a deal with integrity specialists Sportradar.
Sportradar will also be a commercial partner, licensing data covering USL Championship matches with an option to add on League One matches, to the global sports betting business.
The integrity deal with the USL comes as the US prohibition of on-line gaming and sports betting comes to an end and operators start to win licenses. With the increased opportunity to bet on football in the US with more betting markets becoming available, so comes an obviously increased threat betting related match-fixing.
“There is nothing more important than protecting the overall integrity of our League,” said USL Senior Vice President Lizzie Seedhouse. “We have to stay vigilant in the ways we protect our players and teams, and in the ever-changing landscape of sports betting in the United States, education for all those with access to influence the game is paramount.”
Sportradar will monitor USL competitions using its fraud detection system as well as providing a suite of educational tools to players, match officials and team staff in English and Spanish. The USL will also have access to Sportradar’s intelligence and investigations services.
Sportradar will carry out a comprehensive integrity audit for the USL to with a view to the league creating an effective and comprehensive integrity programme.
“We are excited to partner with USL and look forward to supporting them in installing a best-in-class integrity program,” said Andy Cunningham, Director, Global Strategy of Integrity Services at Sportradar. “They have shown a strong commitment to upholding the integrity of their competitions and protecting their stakeholders.”
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