Brazil’s Ministry of Sports has entered into a formal Technical Cooperation Agreement (ACT) with Sportradar Group AG, a global leader in sports data and integrity services, to strengthen efforts against match-fixing within the country’s growing sports betting market. This collaboration focuses on sharing critical information and developing joint measures designed to ensure the integrity of sports competitions.

Advanced monitoring and training support:

Under the agreement, Sportradar will supply specialized assistance to the Ministry of Sports, including alerts on suspicious betting activities identified by its advanced Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS). This industry-leading technology monitors betting patterns to flag irregularities that may indicate manipulation or corruption. Additionally, Sportradar will offer training workshops for ministry personnel, focusing on best practices to detect, investigate, and prevent fraudulent behavior related to sports betting.

The inaugural training session, scheduled for May 15, will also involve representatives from Brazil’s Ministry of Finance, another government body recently partnered with Sportradar through a similar ACT. This multi-agency approach underscores the Brazilian government’s commitment to tackling sports corruption comprehensively by combining regulatory oversight and technological expertise.

André Fufuca, Brazil’s Minister of Sports, highlighted the significance of this agreement, stating in Sportradar’s press release, “Today we signed a milestone agreement in the fight against match-fixing in Brazilian sports. Integrity must be a constant principle when it comes to transparency, ethics and, above all, the fairness of sports results. With this agreement, we will have tools to curb this practice and ensure greater transparency in competitions. This way, athletes, clubs, organisations, fans and the entire population will be able to trust the fairness of the outcomes and, in turn, have the confidence to unlock the full potential of Brazilian sports.”

From Sportradar’s perspective, the partnership represents a crucial step in enhancing the safety and transparency of Brazil’s sports environment. Andreas Krannich, Executive Vice President of Integrity and Regulatory Services at Sportradar, commented, “Establishing this partnership with the Ministry of Sports is an important milestone in strengthening sports integrity in Brazil. As a global integrity leader, leveraging cutting-edge technology to prevent and combat match-fixing, we believe that protecting competitions requires coordinated action between the public and private sectors. Through this collaboration, Sportradar continues to reaffirm its commitment to a more transparent and safer sports environment for the athletes and all the stakeholders involved in Brazilian sport.”

Expanding network of integrity partnerships:

This agreement adds to Sportradar’s expanding network of integrity-focused partnerships within Brazil. Recent collaborations include deals with the Goiás State Attorney’s Office, the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV), and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). Furthermore, Sportradar maintains ongoing relationships with soccer federations across 17 Brazilian states, creating a comprehensive framework aimed at preserving the honesty of sport nationwide.

The new cooperation comes amid Brazil’s ongoing preparations to regulate its betting industry more rigorously, balancing market development with measures to protect consumers and preserve fair play. Sportradar’s integrity services have seen strong growth globally, with the company recently reporting a 33% revenue increase in this division, fueled by rising demand for fraud detection and regulatory compliance solutions.