Under the partnership, Victoria police’s Sporting Integrity Intelligence Unit (SIIU) will receive real-time alerts from ESIC on suspicious betting activity. This collaboration allows law enforcement to start investigations promptly.
The Victorian Crimes Act was amended in 2013 to include four criminal offences related to corrupting betting outcomes. These offences do not specify the type of sporting event but focus on the corruption of a betting outcome.
In 2019, the SIIU conducted Australia’s first law enforcement investigation into match-fixing in esports. Charges were filed against five individuals for engaging in conduct that corrupts or would corrupt a betting outcome and using corrupt conduct information for betting purposes. These offences carry a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
The assistant commissioner for intelligence and covert support command, Chris Gilbert, emphasizes that players in esports may be more vulnerable to corrupt approaches by criminal entities due to factors such as minimal prize money and a lack of focus on integrity and education from game developers. Victoria police will continue to combat potential offenders, including organized crime syndicates, infiltrating esports. They have established strong relationships with esports stakeholders and wagering operators to collaborate on targeting suspicious activity.
It is important to recognize that these are significant criminal offences with substantial penalties, and any reports of suspicious activity will be treated seriously.
ESIC’s director of global strategy, Stephen Hanna, emphasizes the need for collaboration between law enforcement agencies and ESIC to ensure a fair and safe environment for esports competitors and fans. This collaboration aims to identify and investigate suspicious betting activity and protect the integrity of esports competitions. ESIC looks forward to continuing to work with Victoria police and other law enforcement agencies to safeguard esports.
