The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has further enhanced its global reach, as sports betting provider and content hub IMG Arena joins its membership.

As an associate member of the industry safeguarding and anti-corruption organisation, IMG will collaborate with the multinational body on betting integrity and sports data distribution.

IMG is one of the latest companies to join as an associate, a third category of IBIA member institutions sitting alongside operators and affiliates created to “reflect the association’s widening international multi-sector engagement activity”.

“The move is natural progression following an increasing engagement between IMG Arena and IBIA on betting and integrity issues,” said IBIA CEO, Khalid Ali. “It acknowledges the growing importance of sports data to IBIA’s regulated betting operators and the benefits both parties see from closer cooperation. 

“IBIA values IMG Arena’s contribution to the protection of the integrity of sporting events and the related sports data rights that it distributes globally. The association looks forward to building upon our existing relationship and widening our engagement activities.”

Under the IBIA’s new structure, associate membership is open to businesses or organisations that share its values and ambitions with relation to sporting integrity and betting issues connected with this area.

IMG Arena currently maintains partnerships with a range of football leagues such as Poland’s top-flight Ekstraklasa, whilst the IBIA has identified the sport as a significant area of interest with regards to betting integrity, having recently reported that friendly matches face a heightened threat of corruption and criminality.

“We are thrilled to become an associate member of the IBIA,” remarked Freddie Longe, EVP and Managing Director of IMG ARENA.

“We are committed to protecting the integrity of sport and have had a consistent position and commitment to distribution of official content since our launch in 2012.

“The IBIA is a leading global voice on integrity for the licensed sports betting industry and we are proud to develop our partnership further in support of our shared vision.”