Cheating to Lose

The roundtables examine how betting markets, organized crime, and insider access create vulnerabilities for athletes, officials, and referees. Using major case studies, the discussions explore why certain sports are more susceptible to manipulation and how enforcement mechanisms differ across jurisdictions.

Two expert-led online sessions examining:

• Deliberate manipulation of sporting outcomes

• Match-fixing, insider information, and betting-related corruption

• Athlete, official, and referee vulnerabilities

• The intersection of sport, gambling markets, and organized crime

• Enforcement challenges and future regulatory solutions

CORE THEMES (BOTH SESSIONS)

These sessions explore “cheating to lose”—situations where:

• Athletes, officials, or referees deliberately manipulate outcomes

• Betting markets create incentives for corruption

• Organized crime intersects with sport

Key emphasis areas:

• Lessons from recent high-profile scandals

• Structural vulnerabilities within sports systems

• Public vs. private enforcement challenges

• The rapidly evolving sports betting environment

SESSION 1 – ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

Focus: Defining Manipulation & Understanding Risk

Key Topics

1. Defining Prohibited Manipulation

• Spying and surveillance

• Use of insider information

• Inducements and bribery

• Failure to report corruption approaches

2. High-Profile Case Studies

• Canadian women’s soccer – Paris 2024 Olympic Games

• NFL “Spygate” – New England Patriots

• MLB Houston Astros – 2017 World Series sign-stealing

• NBA referee Tim Donaghy – betting and officiating corruption

3. Sports Most at Risk

• Tennis

• Soccer

• Basketball

• Cricket

• UFC

• Boxing

Discussion factors:

• Role and power of referees

• Number of scoring opportunities

• Individual vs. team sports

• Anti-corruption resources within sport federations

• Why some sports experience higher match-fixing rates

4. Enforcement & Investigations

• International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA):

  • Investigations

  • Sanctions

• Lessons from anti-corruption hearings led by:

  • Janie Soubliere

  • Richard McLaren

SESSION 2 – ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION

Focus: Enforcement, Athlete Protection & Policy Reform

Key Topics

1. Organized Betting Syndicates

• Belgian Grigor Sarsgyn betting syndicate case

• Coordinating:

  • Domestic police

  • International law enforcement

  • Private sports administrators

• Challenges of cross-border cooperation

2. Athlete Vulnerability

• Financial pressure

• Gambling addiction

• Distinguishing systemic corruption from “bad apple” cases

3. Empowering Athletes

• IOC Code of Ethics

• “Believe in Sport” campaign

• Creating safe pathways for athletes to report corruption

4. Policy & Governance Solutions

• McLaren Global Sports Solutions & CCES White Paper (2024):

  • National policy on match-fixing

  • Enhanced education for athletes and administrators

  • Permanent national working group

  • Sports betting revenue sharing to fund integrity enforcement

  • Stronger regulation mechanisms

  • Should Canada ratify the Macolin Convention?

5. Sports Betting Regulation

• Internet-enabled gambling:

  • Risk vs. opportunity

• Regulatory gaps

• Future enforcement models

STRATEGIC VALUE OF THIS SERIES

This roundtable series positions GSII as:

• A leader in anti-corruption and integrity governance

• A convener of cross-sector expertise (law, sport, law enforcement)

• A platform for policy influence and reform

• A trusted voice on sports betting and integrity risk