Online Reporter
AS it continues to spread, last week’s AIPS Congress in Rabat highlighted a growing global concern.
Experts from several countries warned of the lack of effective legal frameworks to curb this phenomenon, which is becoming an increasing concern for governments, sports federations and journalists.
While this is not a new concern, it is becoming increasingly urgent. During the 87th event in Morocco, an interdisciplinary panel addressed the increasingly overt threat of illegal betting in sport, particularly through digital platforms that bypass regulations and infiltrate vulnerable communities.
“The main obstacle is the lack of a clear legal framework,” explained Moroccan lawyer Mehdi Zouat in a direct and unambiguous intervention. He stressed that, as in many other countries, the Moroccan authorities are limited to measures such as freezing suspicious bank accounts and lack the tools to properly prosecute those responsible.
“What’s most worrying is that these platforms increasingly target minors, as regulation of online content remains weak,” he added.
Gianni Merlo, president of the Association of International Sports Press, offered a broader perspective, “Illegal betting poses a real threat to the integrity of sporting competitions.”
He explained how match-fixing operations exploit the time delay between live broadcasts and online betting odds.
“Italy faced a similar situation years ago. It was only possible to make progress with strict laws and advertising controls,” said the Italian head of the international sports press.
Journalist Ahmed Mediany delved deeper into the issue, presenting concrete findings from his investigation into the activities of the Russian-based company 1XBET, which he published in TelQuel.
According to his report, the platform evades legal scrutiny through aggressive digital marketing and sponsorship deals, operating in a legal “grey area.”
The problem is not confined to the Maghreb. Mohamed Mahmoud Abia, an Egyptian journalist and writer, shared his perspective from the audiovisual sector.
He has contributed to the series Montaha Al Salahia (Final Clearance), which is based on real-life stories of illegal betting in Egypt’s lower-tier football leagues.
“What we show isn’t fiction. These are stories that happen every day in our country,” he emphasised.
Cybersecurity expert Hassan Kharjouj addressed the digital dimension of the issue, offering a detailed explanation of how these platforms use tracking tools and behavioural analysis to target users.
“Their main target audience is teenagers aged 13 to 17. In many cases, age restrictions can be bypassed with just a few clicks,” he explained, also warning of the heightened risk of addiction among minors.
Far from merely raising the alarm, all of the participants on the panel called for an urgent, multidisciplinary response.
“There must be coordination between legal, media and sports institutions to tackle this threat comprehensively,” was one of the most repeated messages throughout the debate.
This is not the first time that Morocco has taken a leading role in addressing this issue. Last year, the Moroccan Sports Press Association (AMPS) issued a public warning about the dangers of illegal betting. The organisation highlighted the harmful impact of illegal betting on the economy, the protection of minors and the state’s sovereignty over gambling regulation.
The organisation also named platforms such as 1XBET on that occasion and demanded tangible progress in the implementation of the Macolin Convention.
The 2024 message was a wake-up call. However, what was heard in Rabat last week was a global alarm.
With cases emerging across Africa, Eastern Europe, and South America, illegal betting has evolved from a peripheral concern into a systemic problem.
As many speakers pointed out, its silent expansion threatens not only elite athletes and professional sport, but also the very foundations of fair competition.
The lasting impression is that time is running out while the issue continues to grow at a pace that current legislation cannot match.
Without joint responses and clear policies, illegal betting will continue to spread across the margins of a system that, due to its complexity and the wide range of fragmented legal frameworks — many of which are weak or easily circumvented, remains fertile ground for evasion and exploitation.
At stake are not only vulnerable groups and minors, but also the credibility of competitions, the health of sport itself, and its underlying values. – insidethegames.com/Sports Reporter
