Bet365, Betway, and FanDuel pledge C$300,000 to new Canadian athlete education scheme
Operators team up with IBIA on new three-year initiative targeting potential integrity threats
International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) members bet365, Betway, and FanDuel have teamed up with the integrity body to fund a new C$300,000 Canadian athlete education program.
The funding partners have pledged to invest at least CA$300,000 over three years in the program, which aims to address the potential threat to athletes, sport, and the regulated market from sports betting-related match-fixing and fraud.
It is understood the trio are now in active discussions regarding a potential delivery method for the funding, with the goal of finalizing this over the next few weeks.
The program will then be rolled out over the second half of this year and is intended to include face-to-face athlete training, an e-learning portal, anonymous reporting app, and materials aimed at raising awareness of the issues concerned.
Betway’s CEO Anthony Werkman highlighted the role of sporting integrity protection as a key for the firm in all its worldwide operational areas, including the Canadian market of Ontario.
“As a global brand, we have a commitment to combatting any form of betting corruption, both globally and locally, and we look forward to working with the other members to help shape a better future for both sports organizations and regulators,” Werkman said.
These sentiments were echoed by FanDuel Canada general manager Dale Hooper, who added: “Maintaining the integrity of sport is essential to players’ safety and enjoyment – the pillars of what we do at FanDuel.
“As a newly regulated market, we are committed to supporting educational programs in Ontario that will help increase understanding and protections for athletes, bettors, and beyond.”
The IBIA represents more than 120 sportsbook operators globally, generating approximately CA$185bn in total bets annually, and represents the majority of those operators licensed in Ontario. Globally, over 120 sportsbook operators are members of the IBIA and the integrity body represents the majority of licensed operators in Ontario.
IBIA CEO Khalid Ali welcomed the new initiative and the commitment from the IBIA members.
“All of the partners are excited to see the positive impact this project will have on maintaining the integrity of Canadian sport and the players themselves. For IBIA, sports integrity, and investing in the people that make sport happen, matters,” Ali said.