Sportradar signs MoU with Portuguese operator association
Sports data and content provider Sportradar has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with APAJO, the Portuguese Association of Online Betting and Gaming.
The deal, the first of its kind between an operator association and Sportradar, will focus around protecting integrity in sport, and improving industry cooperation on integrity-related issues.
Sportradar and APAJO will exchange data and information related to integrity in sports, as well as explore opportunities for additional projects where they can cooperate in order to further promote sports integrity.
“APAJO members now have a formal channel available to communicate on integrity matters with the world-wide leading experts in this field which will prove mutually beneficial,” APAJO president Gabino Oliveira said.
“We also look forward to exploring further cooperation opportunities in sports integrity education. Portugal was one of the first countries to ratify the Macolin Convention and hence, we are happy to work here in line with our government’s engagement.”
Andreas Krannich, managing director of Sportradar Integrity Services, added: “Sportradar are firm supporters of the Council of Europe’s Macolin Convention. Initiatives like this MoU we have signed today with APAJO is a clear commitment that we both buy in to the spirit of this convention and are ready to back it up with action. Portuguese sport will become safer with this cooperation.”
Last week, Portuguese gambling regulator Serviço Regulação e Inspeção de Jogos do Turismo de Portugal revealed record online revenue for the seventh quarter in a row, thanks to casino and sports betting growth.
The total of €54.1m (£45.2m/$60.2m), up from €48.3m in the second quarter and a 39.1% year-on-year rise, was generated by 11 businesses, which held a total of 18 licences by the end of September.
The results came after APAJO in October called for Portuguese authorities to block payments to unlicensed operators after it was found that a significant number of players continue to gamble with illegal sites.
An APAJO survey found that 56% of gamblers continue to bet with licensed and unlicensed operators some three years after legal online gambling was introduced.