The BackPage Weekly | Sportradar’s use of AI to help detect match fixing and the case of World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (the “WPBSA”) and Mark King

By Deirdre Duke and Andrew Nixon

Introduction

The decision in the recent case of the WPBSA and Mark King has been issued by an independent disciplinary commission appointed and administered by Sport Resolutions. This case which, amongst other things, underlines the increasing importance of AI in helping with the fight against match fixing.

Sportradar’s AI-powered bet-monitoring system first detected suspicious activity in February 2023. In collaboration with the WPBSA, the Sportradar Anti-Match-Fixing team analysed complex betting data and conducted digital forensic investigations of mobile devices, providing critical evidence for the case. This ultimately led to the suspension by the WPBSA of Mr King in March 2023.

The WPBSA’s Integrity Unit undertook an investigation into various breaches of the governing body’s Conduct Regulations. The investigation was supported by Sportradar (whose key role we touch on above and expand on, below) and the Sports Betting Intelligence Unit at the Gambling Commission.

On 14 November 2024, Mr King was found guilty of match-fixing. He has been banned from participating in activities or events recognised or organised by the WPBSA for five years and was ordered to pay costs to the WPBSA in the sum of £68,299.50.

Match-fixing remains a cancer in sport

Match-fixing, and betting related corruption, remains the most significant threat to the essence of sport. It removes uncertainty of outcome, a principle which underpins the very point of sport from a participation, fan engagement and, ultimately, a commercial perspective. As the independent panel in England and Wales Cricket Board v Kaniera and Westfield[1] stated, “match-fixing is the cancer that eats at the health and very existence of the game”.

An analysis of the various integrity related regulatory frameworks within sport is outside the scope of this article but, as stated in Sport: Law & Practice, 4th Edition, sports federations will seek, through private regulation, to prohibit and prevent any conduct that risks undermining the “all important public confidence in the authenticity and integrity of their results”. The WPBSA, in this regard, is no different and, much like other sports federations, combine ‘catch all’ regulations in relation to acts which may bring the sport into disrepute, with more specific regulations tailored to match-fixing, as well as requirements in relation to cooperation and reporting.

However, even the most carefully curated integrity regulations have limited utility unless they can be effectively enforced. Unlike other areas of sporting misconduct, which either take place in the full glare of spectators and officials (and often TV cameras) or, in the case of doping, can be policed by urine or blood sample analysis, match-fixing is difficult to both detect and prosecute.

Federations therefore need to be smart, in terms of how they gather evidence and intelligence, starting with analysis of betting activity, and betting patterns. Indeed, without that starting point, which federations and their integrity teams can work back from, very few investigations would ever get off the ground.

The key role of Sportradar

Sportradar is probably best known as a global sports technology company and the official sports data provider of high-profile sports bodies, such as UEFA, FIFA, AFC, NBA, MLB, NASCAR, and the NHL.

An essential part of Sportradar is its ‘Integrity Services’ team. Sportradar Integrity Services monitor and analyse the worldwide betting market for suspicious betting patterns, as well as providing intelligence and investigative support, and educational services to athletes, officials, and other sporting stakeholders on the dangers of match-fixing. Sportradar provide integrity services to sports federations (such as the WPBSA) and collaborate with state authorities and law enforcement institutions to detect and prevent betting-related manipulation of matches.

In this case, Sportradar Integrity Services detected the suspicious betting activity through its AI-powered bet monitoring solution, called the Universal Fraud Detection System, or the UFDS. Sportradar then reported this betting market intelligence to the WPBSA, as a result of the partnership. Consistent with other cases of this nature, Sportradar and the WPBSA worked closely together throughout the investigation, with the UFDS being used to detect betting patterns and activity.

During the investigation, the WPBSA received additional information that expanded the scope of the investigation to include a match played on 13 December 2022, by Mr King at the English Open. Sportradar also provided in depth report through the UFDS on the 2022 match. The independent panel were able to use this report to determine that there was nothing particularly unusual or suspicious about the betting on this match.

Sportradar also provided the WPBSA with extensive intelligence and investigation support.

For example, this included:

• betting data analysis, and intelligence, which showed the link between certain players and bettors who had placed bets on matches identified as suspicious;

• analysis of whistle-blower information;

• digital forensic analysis of mobile telephone devices (which were confiscated pursuant to disciplinary rules) of relevant players that were suspected of being involved in the match-fixing, followed by forensic examinations and analysis of the data extracted from the mobile telephones; and

• dissemination of findings to WPBSA, to enable the governing body to commence investigative interviews.

Conclusion

The case is another reminder that corruption, and match-fixing, remains a clear and present danger to the integrity of sport. Sports federations are often in an unenviable position, as private bodies, charged with conducting complex (and resource heavy) investigations and prosecutions.

The importance of the collaborative approach between the WPBSA and Sportradar cannot be understated. Sportradar’s deployment of its AI-powered bet-monitoring system and the Anti-Match-Fixing team’s analysis of the complex betting data was crucial to the case.

The case also serves to underline the importance of the relationship between federations and the betting markets: without that, many incidents would go undetected. In this case, it is important to acknowledge the WPBSA’s robust regulatory process, its zero-tolerance approach and its own established intelligence gathering capabilities. Sportradar was then able to provide the ‘bridge’ between the WPBSA and betting related intelligence and overlay intelligence services with highly sophisticated, investigative support, which complimented the skills of the WPBSA’s Integrity Unit. This investigative, intelligence and technology led approach is now integral to maintaining the integrity of sport.

[1] 2012