A conference on preserving the integrity of sports, raising awareness, and preventing illegal gambling commenced on Tuesday at the Sofitel Hotel in Rabat.
Organized by the community of Macolin Convention, a legal instrument of international law against the manipulation of sports competitions, with the support of the Moroccan Games and Sports (MDJS), a state lottery and in collaboration with the Council of Europe and the Copenhagen Group, the conference seeks to discuss practical means of fighting illegal betting, a practice that jeopardizes the integrity of sports competitions.
Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, said in a press statement that signing the Macolin Convention embodies “Morocco’s dedication to addressing the phenomenon of illegal betting,” particularly its social and security implications, such as money laundering.
“Last May, Morocco established a platform with all stakeholders to strengthen the fight against illegal betting,” he explained, adding that the conference will allow the platform to integrate the network of players and learn from worldwide experience in combating this phenomenon.
The Chairman of the Committee of Follow-up of the Macolin Convention, Georgios Mavrotas, shed light on the significance of this meeting, stating that illegal betting is a major concern for sports, necessitating the mobilization of all stakeholders to ensure the integrity of international sports practice.
He also commended the European Council, Macolin Convention signatories, and worldwide sports movements for their collaboration in tackling illegal betting.
According to the leader of the Copenhagen Group, an international network of national platforms against illicit gambling, the meeting intends to mobilize countries against illegal gaming sites.
He stated that organized crime is targeting the entire funding of sports and gaming addiction. With the attendance of a number of high-level experts and participants, the conference also emphasized international interest and engagement in battling illegal gaming sites.
According to the Head of Copenhagen Group, an international network of national platforms against illicit gambling, “the gathering plans to increase global mobilization against illegal gaming sites.”
“The conference, attended by high-level experts, aims to address organized crime targeting sports funding and gaming addiction,” he added.
According to a press release issued by the Head of Europe Council Office in Morocco, Illegal betting constitutes a growing threat to sports integrity and is now a preferred domain of organized crime, coexisting with traditional crimes such as drug trafficking and human trafficking, and it can facilitate global money laundering.
The diverse methods employed by criminals make it difficult to gauge the extent of this threat. Estimates suggest it could reach around 1,000 billion euros in terms of bets.
By providing an informative platform for discussions, expert panels, and networking with key players to preserve global sports integrity, the Rabat conference should deepen understanding of the broad ramifications of illegal betting mechanisms and promote effective international cooperation and action.