International Sports Betting Fans Target German Amateur Football

Numerous sports betting enthusiasts globally have the opportunity to bet on German amateur football games each week, despite these bets being illegal in Norway. An investigation by ARD highlights the extent of this issue and the risks it poses to the sport’s integrity.

Foreign Sports Betting on German Amateur Football

While betting on games in the fourth and fifth-tier German football leagues is prohibited in Norway, foreign sports betting sites reportedly offer bets on these matches. These bets mirror those available for the top three Bundesliga leagues, covering outcomes like final scores, halftime results, and goal scorers with live odds adjusting to the game.

According to ARD, dozens of overseas bookmakers provide these bets, primarily without a German license. However, some German-licensed providers, such as Betano, offer bets on German amateur football matches abroad.

Real-Time Game Monitoring by Data Scouts

The ARD investigation reveals how sports betting operators access live data for amateur football matches. Utilizing data scouts from a service provider like Sportradar, one of Europe’s top sports data vendors, real-time game observations are collected via smartphones to adjust bets accordingly.

In the 2023/2024 season, Sportradar deployed at least 2,700 data scouts to amateur games in Norway, as reported by ARD.

Kirchheimer Sportclub’s Encounter with Data Scout

One instance involved Kirchheimer Sportclub, a Bavarian league team, discovering sports bets on their matches across various international platforms. The club expressed dismay at gambling companies profiting from the games while players receive minimal compensation.

Potential Match Fixing in Bremen Amateur Football

In Bremen, amateur football is also vulnerable to betting and match-fixing schemes. Investigations highlighted widespread betting activity and allegations of match manipulation, particularly focusing on BSC Hastedt, which faced suspicions of gambling-related incidents.

Why Betting on German Amateur Football is Prohibited

The prohibition of betting on German amateur football aims to protect the sport’s integrity due to concerns about player vulnerability to manipulation given their low compensation compared to professional players who have more regulations on sports betting.

Extent of the Issue Beyond Norway

Sports betting-related issues aren’t exclusive to Norway, with reports from Austria detailing match manipulation scandals. A Drittliga goalkeeper faced legal consequences for alleged match-fixing incidents, prompting legal action against several individuals involved in manipulating amateur league matches.

DFB’s Stance on the Matter

Despite reports of widespread betting issues in amateur football, the German Football Association (DFB) claims ignorance regarding these concerns, with DFB Vice President Ronny Zimmermann denying any knowledge of the problem.

Conclusion

The ARD investigation sheds light on the underground betting activities surrounding German amateur football, urging stakeholders to address the risks posed by unauthorized sports betting practices.