"Safe bet": Inside IBIA's mission to lead global sports betting integrity

"Safe bet": Inside IBIA's mission to lead global sports betting integrity

The latest issue of SiGMA Magazine features a deep dive interview with IBIA CEO Khalid Ali, where he highlights IBIA’s core role in safeguarding sporting events and regulated betting markets by detecting, disrupting and preventing match-fixing that threatens sporting integrity.  

Integrity risks are highest where sports governance is weak and betting activity is concentrated in poorly regulated or unregulated markets. “A collaborative ecosystem is the foundation of effective sports integrity”, Khalid highlights.  

IBIA’s recent partnership with the Africa iGaming Alliance builds on the ongoing collaborations with international sports bodies such as FIFA, IOC, UEFA and CONMEBOL and various regulators across the globe. Guided by its Mission 2030 strategy, new strategic foci now reflect emerging challenges such as crypto, AI, and esports. 

At the heart of IBIA’s work is its Global Monitoring and Alert Platform (Global MAP): a bespoke tool for identifying and sharing alerts on suspicious betting with sports bodies, regulators, and law enforcement. IBIA's Global MAP has enabled IBIA to flag 300 alerts in 2025, and 117 in Africa over the last five years, contributing to 54 matches being proven corrupted and 24 athletes, teams or officials sanctioned in 2025 alone.  

With over 20 years’ experience and more than 90 members operating 200+ brands across six continents, IBIA can monitor over 1.5m sporting events across 80+ sports thanks to its members’ intelligence. As Khalid puts it: "The future of sports integrity will be shaped by those who anticipate change, innovate and work together." 

Read the full article here: https://sigma.world/news/safe-bet-ibias-winning-hand-in-sports-integrity/