UKGC aids international efforts against basketball match-fixing

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has commemorated joint efforts to prosecute basketball players for match-fixing breaches.

Together with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the British Basketball Federation (BBF), the regulator’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit (SBIU) conducted a joint investigation which led to six former players being charged for match manipulation.

Five of the individuals were in the squad of now defunct Surrey Scorchers, which competed in the then-British Basketball League (BBL). Six offences are said to have taken place during the 2022/23 season of the league.

The investigation concluded with the enforcement of various penalties, ranging from financial sanctions to 10-year bans and lifetime suspensions from basketball.

Quincy Taylor and Charleston Dobbs were both hit with a domestic lifetime ban and £3,000 fines from the BBF. FIBA then extended their bans globally. The same verdict was ruled for Shakem Johnston, Padiet Wang and Joshua McFolley.

Additional investigation efforts further revealed that another ex-player, Dean Wanliss, had participated in the same match-fixing conduct in matches between 2019-2021. 

The Wanliss probe was led by the BFF, in collaboration with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB), and the International Olympic Committee Monitoring Unit.

Being one of the most widely spread sports in the world, basketball remains a highly lucrative target for match-fixers, together with football and tennis.

The International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) has more than once warned about the dangers of corruption within the sport. However, the latest charges delivered by a cross-border collaboration between regulators serves as evidence of an efficient global monitoring system.