The betting business including online gambling sites (judi online) has always raised controversies throughout the world. The tennis betting scandal raised more eyebrows when a systematic betting manipulation had been revealed.
The investigation into the systematic manipulation of betting by mafia groups in tennis continues.
Upon request, the tennis player admitted the procedure but did not want to comment publicly. The research shows that a professional from the top 30 in the world rankings is said to be involved in the betting scandal. He has already won several ATP tournaments. Around 135 players worldwide are now involved. Investigations have spanned various countries including Belgium, Spain, France, and the United States for more than a year.
Eric Bisschop, Deputy Public Prosecutor in Belgium and involved investigator: “This case is about the network of an Armenian betting mafia, which has spread over seven countries in Europe and which has cheated in a highly intelligent and large-scale manner.” It is not only the dimension that is unique but also the system of betting manipulators.
Hundreds of small amounts were sometimes bet on manipulated games, and this in close consultation with the tennis professionals on the court. In total, tens of thousands of euros would come together for each manipulation. Bisschop: “This mafia works in a very structured way, it has people who are responsible for the accounts, others who launder the money, and those who establish contact with the players.”
Sport has become the field for an unrevealed billion-dollar industry through betting. It has been said to have had global sales of 1.6 trillion euros in the year 2018. Criminals also use this market for themselves. Sergio D’Orsi from the European police authority Europol: “Mafia groups and syndicates worldwide use match-fixing to earn and launder money.”
This is why betting fraud is so common in tennis
In hardly any other sport is the fraud as massive as in tennis. Two central reasons: On the one hand, it is much easier to manipulate competitions of an individual sport, since fewer actors are involved. On the other hand, immense sums of money flow in tennis and football, which also influences the supply on the betting market.
The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) has already issued bans on more than 20 players, men and women, this year.
Two professionals from the tennis landscape unveiled the criminal system. Firstly, Marco Trungelliti, an Argentinian professional who was contacted by manipulators himself. On the other hand, Joss Espasandin from Switzerland. Both have reported their statements to the international tennis association.
Trungelliti: “There are professionals among the top 50 in the world who have manipulated games. You can’t say that it is only cheated in the lower areas, no, it happens at all levels. “