GRID to join forces with IBIA to strengthen Esports integrity

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GRID, the esports data platform, has officially joined the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) as its first esports-focused Associate Member.

This collaboration marks a turning point for esports integrity, uniting GRID with IBIA and its globally recognised integrity-focused members who track over $300 billion in sports bets annually and have an increasing focus on esports betting.

Through this partnership, GRID and IBIA aim to jointly address any integrity issues in esports, build trust between stakeholders and set the benchmark for excellence in the ecosystem. GRID has been a certified member of the IBIA Data Standards Program since 2022, actively participating in the development of specialist esports integrity protocols. This membership further underlines GRID’s commitment to transparency and collaboration in the fight against corruption associated with esports betting.

Since 2018, GRID has operated an internal integrity department that is a pioneer in official data-driven solutions for esports. This makes GRID one of the first companies to monitor tournaments and data integrity in the competitive sports sector, and actively flag and report suspicious behavior, allowing it to compile a large database of integrity reports and analytics.

IBIA is a non-profit organization that protects regulated sports betting markets from match-fixing. It represents over 50 of the world’s leading sportsbooks, which operate over 125 sports betting brands. IBIA’s global monitoring network is a highly effective anti-corruption tool that identifies and reports suspicious activity in regulated betting markets using transaction activity associated with individual customer accounts.

As part of the partnership, GRID and IBIA will share information regarding suspicious esports betting and potential match manipulation through their respective monitoring and intelligence platforms. IBIA members will also have free access to GRID’s wider integrity-focused resources.

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 decisive step towards ensuring that esports is a trusted and reliable industry. This partnership allows us to continue our efforts to increase transparency, reduce the risks associated with esports betting and strengthen operational practices across the entire ecosystem.

Khalid Ali, CEO of IBIA, said:

We are delighted to welcome GRID as an Associate Member of IBIA. This partnership is a landmark one 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 corruption in betting worldwide.