SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Esports data provider GRID has been named the latest member of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
With the announcement, GRID becomes the first esports-focused Associate Member, signifying the sector’s efforts towards betting integrity.
The partnership comes two years after GRID received IBIA’s Data Standards certification, which allied the esports firm to actively contribute towards the development of tailored esports integrity protocols.
Moritz Maurer, CEO of GRID, commented: “Integrity is at the heart of GRID’s mission. By joining IBIA as an Associate Member, we are taking a definitive step toward establishing esports as a trusted and credible industry.
“This partnership enables us to further our efforts in promoting transparency, reducing risks associated with esports betting, and strengthening operational practices across the ecosystem.’’
GRID has been engaged with setting integrity standards in the esports sector since 2018, monitoring tournaments and flagging down suspicious behaviours that could have a direct impact on data integrity.
These efforts will now be further boosted thanks to the IBIA, with both companies exchanging experience and knowledge about potential bad actors and match manipulation cases affecting competitive esports worldwide.
Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said: “We are delighted to welcome GRID as an Associate Member of IBIA. This partnership is a landmark for the esports sector and reflects our commitment to expanding our integrity initiatives into new markets.
“GRID’s expertise in esports data monitoring and integrity standards is an invaluable asset in our shared mission to combat betting corruption globally.”
