Match-fixing
What is match-fixing?
Match-fixing means that someone deliberately attempts to influence the outcome of, for example, a sporting event in a way that is not fair. This is done to gain an advantage for themselves or others, typically of a financial nature.
According to the definition, the following criteria must be present for an action to be considered match-fixing:
- The result or course of a sporting event is influenced in a way that is not permitted.
- All or part of the unpredictability normally associated with the course and outcome of a sporting event is removed.
- The action or omission results in an undue advantage for the person themselves or others.
Examples of match-fixing include:
- Agreements about the result/outcome of a sporting event before it takes place — for example, when one team deliberately loses or plays for a draw.
- Manipulation of individual events during the competition without necessarily affecting the final result — for example, the number of corner kicks, penalties, free kicks, or the number of yellow or red cards (“spot-fixing”).
- Manipulation of the final score, but not the winner of the event — for example, when players receive payment to ensure their team does not win by more than 10 points (“point-shaving”).
- An athlete deliberately underperforming or similar actions.
- Referees or officials intentionally making incorrect decisions.
- Unlawful alteration or use of equipment or physical conditions used in the competition with the intention of manipulating the result.
- Bribery, threats, or other coercive behavior towards a person to change, secure, accelerate, or influence a specific outcome of a sporting competition or event.
- Support staff deliberately influencing athletes with the intention of making them underperform.
Denmark and the Convention on Match-Fixing
The Council of Europe established the Macolin Convention in 2014 to combat match-fixing. Denmark signed the convention the same year but has not ratified it.
The convention contains a wide range of measures aimed at reducing the risk of sports events being manipulated.
The Ministry of Culture holds the overall responsibility for establishing the framework for combating match-fixing in Denmark. Even though the convention has not entered into force, Denmark has chosen to implement several requirements and measures inspired by it — for example, the independent criminalisation of match-fixing, cf. the Act on the Promotion of Integrity in Sport, Section 10 b.
The Danish Gambling Authority is a member of the national platform to combat match-fixing
The Danish Gambling Authority is both a member of and the secretariat for “The National Platform,” a collaborative forum in Denmark that coordinates joint efforts to combat match-fixing. In addition to the Gambling Authority, the platform currently includes Anti Doping Denmark, the Ministry of Culture, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Money Laundering Secretariat, the gambling industry, Danske Licens Spil A/S, the Danish Football Association (DBU), and the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark (DIF).
The Gambling Authority has been appointed as the secretariat for the national platform to combat match-fixing. Among its responsibilities is ensuring progress in the platform’s work, including facilitating knowledge sharing — for example, reports received through the reporting channel Stopmatchfixing.
The Gambling Authority must also, in its role as secretariat, cooperate with relevant authorities and organisations at both national and international levels, including national platforms in other countries.
What obligations do licence holders have?
What else can you do?
Today, it is not required that the licence holder must inform the Danish Gambling Authority of a suspicion, we would like to receive information from licence holders that we can disclose to the National Platform in order to strengthen the combat of match-fixing.
The Danish Gambling Authority runs the report channel "Stopmatchfixing.dk", where anyone can report a suspicion on match-fixing.