• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, October 8, 2025

To Catch A Cheat: How Monitors Catch Illicit Gambling Activity

  • It’s arguably easier to catch suspicious wagering activity than ever before.
  • FOS spoke with experts to explain how integrity monitoring works.
Suspicious betting is becoming easier to detect
Syndication: The Record

Suspicious gambling activity, which can be anything from gambling underage to full-on match-fixing, existed long before 2018 when the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting ban. 

But since sports betting has become legal in more than 30 states nationwide, there have been plenty of scandals even in the regulated marketplace. Some, like the recent suspensions in the NFL, were as innocuous as players betting on games — flouting league policy but not the law. Others, like the scandal involving Alabama baseball, compromised the game’s integrity. 

But it’s arguably easier to catch than ever before, given that most betting is done in a regulated marketplace and that integrity monitors have improved technology, multiple gambling industry experts told Front Office Sports. 

But how does the industry catch a gambling crook? 

Myriad of Betting Scandals

When monitoring “match-fixing,” companies look for four major types of activities, Sportradar Head of Integrity Services & Athlete Wellbeing, Jim Brown, told FOS. 

These include a player, coach, or referee exercising their influence to artificially create a specific outcome within a game (that would influence a prop bet), the overall outcome of the game, or sharing private information that could influence a game’s outcome before it’s public — like an injury.

In the U.S., the last issue is the most common — often simply due to a lack of education around what someone in the sports industry can and can’t share, Brown said. 

In fact, the situation at Alabama, where Bohannon was caught on the phone with someone placing bets against his team before a game, is an example of this type of cheating. Bohannon, as the coach, knew his star pitcher was about to be scratched — so he had wagers placed against the Alabama team despite their dominant record. 

But there are other issues, too. People could be placing bets illegally if they’re in a jurisdiction that doesn’t allow betting or if they’re underage. That may have been the case at Iowa and Iowa State, where 41 athletes are being investigated for “potential criminal activity” related to sports betting. Though the exact nature of these allegations remains unclear, they weren’t related to the integrity of the games, sources previously confirmed to FOS. 

Integrity monitors even help teams and leagues keep athletes from violating policies that aren’t against the law but are just against league rules. NFL players, for example, aren’t allowed to bet on NFL games even if they’re not part of them — which is why several were suspended in April.

Activity Indicators for Monitors

Despite the recent headlines, the U.S. is hardly the most high-risk jurisdiction for illicit gambling opportunities. If anything, legalizing sports betting made it easier to monitor illegal activities.

“It doesn’t just happen in one jurisdiction,” Brown said. “When bad actors do match manipulation, they’re going to look for liquidity in the marketplace, and they’re most likely going to an unregulated marketplace.”

But when nefarious activity exists, integrity monitors like Sportradar and U.S. Integrity have multiple strategies. 

They use technology — AI algorithms and data gathering — as their first line of defense.

Typically, they look for deviations in patterns: whether a line moves significantly, and then information is released about a player injury after, for example. Or if wagers are placed on games that aren’t normally popular. They can also track the probability of certain prop bets in real time and whether money lines have deviated from legitimate odds. 

Sportsbooks themselves often monitor teams, too. 

They have data on their customers’ typical betting habits — such as the size of wagers or sport of choice — as well as their age and identity. So if the sportsbook flags an out-of-the-ordinary behavior, it can then be passed along to state gambling regulators or an integrity monitor to analyze.

In the case of the NFL players, GPS location may have been used to help determine the identity of people who weren’t allowed to be wagering, as FOS previously noted.

Then, once a bet is flagged by a monitoring system, a sportsbook, or even a tip, “we have that human layer,” U.S. Integrity COO Scott Sadin told FOS. A betting analyst (a real-life person) will investigate to see if there’s a reason to believe the bet could signify sketchy activity.

The investigation can then be passed on to the appropriate parties, whether law enforcement officials, a state gambling regulator, a school, or a league.

Future Outlook

Many believe the issues flagged so far show the monitoring systems are working as designed. “I think the books have a pretty good system at the moment,” Phillip Milan, founder of Vegas Kings, told FOS.

In 2022, Sportradar found 1,212 instances of suspicious wagers — a significant uptick from previous years. But that doesn’t necessarily mean gambling is getting dirtier worldwide, Brown said, noting that that number was out of 850,000 matches the company monitored. The uptick can be attributed to more oversight rather than more sketchy activity. 

As the industry matures, “it’s only going to get harder for people to get away with stuff like that,” Milan said.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Inside NCAA Headquarters located in Indianapolis on Friday, March 10, 2023. Ncaa President Charlie Baker

NCAA Approves Plan to Let D-I College Athletes Bet on Pro Sports

The proposal still needs to be approved by D-II and D-III committees.
NYSE

NYSE Owner Pours $2B Into Polymarket at $8B Valuation

Prediction markets keep pushing further into the mainstream.

Live Personalized Betting Is Coming to Amazon’s NBA Streams

The streamer draws heavily from prior experience with the NFL and NASCAR.
Sep 18, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) runs the ball against the Miami Dolphins in the second half at Highmark Stadium.
exclusive

Kalshi, Polymarket Sought to Buy Prediction-Market Platform Novig

Novig is available in close to 40 states.

Featured Today

Paul Cartier

Sports Organists Are Still Thriving in the Era of Raucous Arena Music

“When they walk out and they see a real organ guy, it’s like, ‘Wow.’”
Sep 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Jackson Chourio (11) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
October 4, 2025

Milwaukee Moneyball: Brewers Are Beating MLB’s Deeper Pockets

Milwaukee is holding its own against big-budget competitors.
Kōloa Rum Company Rum Rusher
September 27, 2025

Panthers Bubbly, Jets Wine, Manning Whiskey: The Sports Booze Boom

A sommelier dives into the sports booze trend—and tries Jets wine.
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fans wave Terrible Towels against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium
September 26, 2025

Steelers’ Irish Roots Are Deeper Than NFL Dublin Game

The Steelers have history and the foundation for a future in Ireland.

FanDuel, Jaguars Reach $5M Deal Over Employee Theft

A Jaguars employee stole $20 million and gambled much of it with FanDuel.
Sep 4, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Adoree' Jackson (8) tackles Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during the third quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field.
September 5, 2025

Kalshi’s $27M NFL Opener Runs Into Tribal Challenge

California Tribes want Kalshi forced to implement geofencing.
Sep 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) rushes the ball past Minnesota Vikings safety Theo Jackson (26) during the second half at Soldier Field.
exclusive
September 10, 2025

Americans See Little Difference Between Prediction Markets and Betting

A survey found 85% of respondents believe sports event contracts are gambling.
Sponsored

How Jenny Just Is Shaping the Future of Sports Ownership

Jenny Just on bringing her investment experience to sports ownership.
Eagles
September 4, 2025

FanDuel Paying $80K for Eagles Trains Amid Transit Funding Fight

The gambling company is giving stopgap transit funding in Philadelphia.
Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; TCU Horned Frogs tight end DJ Rogers (0) catches a touchdown pass as North Carolina Tar Heels defensive back Kaleb Cost (21) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium.
September 3, 2025

Polymarket Moves Closer to Reentering the U.S.

There’s yet more prediction markets momentum as the NFL season kicks off.
during the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, August 31, 2025.
September 2, 2025

Underdog Bets on Prediction Markets With Crypto.com Deal

Sports event contracts will be offered in 16 states.
Rob Bonta
August 29, 2025

Users Sue Daily Fantasy Companies After California Calls Them Illegal

Underdog Sports and Boom Fantasy were separately sued.