SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has added France-based operator ZEturf to its ranks, as the organisation continues to bolster membership.
As an IBIA member, the sports and horse racing betting firm will feed into the association’s global integrity monitoring and alert network, alongside other newly-joined companies such as Canada’s Coolbet and Malta’s Videoslots.
The addition of ZEturf – which holds licences in France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Spain and Malta – expands the number of IBIA members to over 40 operators and more than 100 betting firms in general.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “IBIA is delighted to welcome ZEturf group to the association’s growing membership. The operator expands IBIA’s international coverage of regulated horse racing and sports betting markets and reinforces the association’s place as the leading betting integrity monitor. 
“ZEturf brings a distinct operational approach and coverage that will bolster IBIA’s global monitoring and alert network.”
ZEturf’s membership comes amid a range of possible changes in European sports betting, some of which could have a direct impact on the firm’s operations, such as the potential for greater restrictions in the Netherlands.
Regarding integrity, Europe remains the number one destination for betting integrity issues, according to the IBIA’s latest quarterly reports, which saw the continent generate 37 alerts in Q3 2022 and 46 in Q2.
However, of greatest significance to the company is its impending buyout by Groupe FDJ, one of France’s leading horse race betting operators, which outlined earlier this month it had agreed to ‘a transaction valued at €175m’.
Paul Klomp, Managing Director, ZEturf Group, remarked: “I am very pleased that we have entered into this international cooperation between leading operators of sports betting.
“The integrity of sports and especially those we offer bets on is key for offering a solid betting product. With our experiences in the industry for many years we are convinced that we can add value to the association.”
