There were 70 suspicious betting alerts reported by the International Betting Integrity Association during the first three months of 2026.
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported 70 suspicious betting alerts during the first three months of 2026.
This uptick – from 63 alerts in Q1 2025 – constituted a slight increase compared to past quarterly figures and involved 10 different sports, with regulatory authorities from several jurisdictions getting involved.
Once again, the sport that stood out was football, as it has been in previous reports.
In this case 25 alerts, constituting 36% of the quarterly total, were related to football matches. Within these, Mexico became something of a hot spot for match-fixing.
Eight alerts came from Mexico, with others from Honduras and Panama. In Europe, football match alerts emerged in Albania, Cyprus, Greece and Malta.
Tennis also emerged once again as the sport with the second-highest number of suspicious betting alerts, with 16 alerts or 24% of the total.
Notably, six of those were tied to events sitting outside the main professional circuit. This is a detail that will concern integrity officers who have long flagged lower-tier competition as the soft underbelly of match-fixing risk.
Esports contributed 15 alerts, all designated as global in scope, given that competitions and their associated betting markets routinely cross borders without anchoring to any single territory.
Table tennis recorded seven alerts, all linked to events outside the International Table Tennis Federation’s remit. This further reinforces longstanding concerns about integrity standards in smaller, less-scrutinised competitions.
Volleyball registered two alerts; basketball, cricket, badminton, MMA, and handball each produced one.
Geographically, Europe accounted for the largest slice at 28%, with North America behind at 20% and Asia at 13%.
Africa and South America each contributed 9%, while the remaining 21% fell under the global classification, driven predominantly by esports.
Significant focus placed on Brazil
The latest report also trains a lens on Brazil as a result of the country’s move to regulate sports betting. The IBIA has assumed a significant role in the country.
68 suspicious alerts were recorded in Brazil between 2021 and 2025 across eight sports; football was responsible for 51 of them.
The figures arrive against a backdrop of sweeping market change. Federal licensing introduced in 2025 has begun pulling activity away from offshore operators.
In addition, gross gambling revenue from online sports betting is projected to hit BRL28.8bn ($5.67bn) by 2030. Regulated operators are expected to command upwards of 80% of the market.
Brazil’s footprint across Latin America is considerable. The country is forecast to account for 39% of total regional betting revenue in 2026, equalling almost twice Mexico’s share, with Argentina expected at 13%.
Collectively, the three markets are projected to represent more than 70% of Latin American betting value.
The report ultimately shows the conflict that is evident for those who work in regulated gambling. As regulations increase, there is better monitoring but also more exposure, especially in relation to smaller sports organisations and esports tournaments.