IPL 2020: BCCI to employ Fraud Detection System to prevent betting malpractices in tournament

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has tied up with the UK based company ‘Sportrader‘ which will offer its ‘integrity services’ to the IPL Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to prevent betting malpractices by its Fraud Detection System (FDS) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) season.

After getting multiple pieces of evidence of betting malpractices in state-run leagues – KPL and TNPL, the Arun Singh led ACU is alert about the threat of such practices during the cash-rich tournament.

According to Sportradar, Fraud Detection System [FDS], “is a unique service that identifies betting-related manipulation in sport. This is possible due to the FDS’s sophisticated algorithms and constantly maintained database of odds which are leveraged for the purpose of detecting match-fixing”.

“Yes, BCCI has inked a deal with Sportradar for this year’s IPL. They will be working closely with the ACU and offer their integrity services,” an IPL source told PTI.

“Sportradar has very recently red-flagged at least half a dozen games in Goa football league which came under fixing cloud. They have also worked with FIFA, UEFA and various leagues across the globe,” the source added.

BCCI will also keep eye on multiple fantasy gaming companies

The FDS can trace the odd movements of at least 600 independent bookmakers to distinguish the disparities in the betting patterns. It filters around five million data sets per day, according to Sportradar.

Apart from bookie and corruptors, the BCCI will also keep an eye on the multiple fantasy gaming companies.

“Fantasy gaming is not exactly betting in its traditional sense but the element of gambling does exist. So it’s a good thing that BCCI is engaging with a company that works on betting-related corruption in sport,” a veteran BCCI official said.

Under its ’25 alerts’ section, Sportradar website says, “There are 25 live alerts, which instantly identifies irregular betting in the marketplace. The mathematical model uses calculated odds, which runs alongside bookmakers’ odds, in order to highlight if the odds during a specific minute or time is out of line, and therefore, potentially suspicious.”

There are “44 detailed pre-match alerts which are based on odds movements observed at betting operators”.

“An alert is generated in FDS when odds at a bookmaker changes greater than pre-defined parameter”, which can be duly customized in agreement with the essence of the sport.

Also read: IPL 2020: Top 5 Debutants to look out for in IPL 2020