Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling

Manipulating sports competitions, commonly known as ‘match-fixing’ is when someone alters a sporting competition to remove the unpredictable nature of the competition to obtain an undue advantage, or benefit.

People are motivated to manipulate competitions for a variety of reasons such as to get a better draw in a round-robin tournament (often referred to as tanking) or to avoid relegation to a lower competition. Another reason people manipulate competitions is to profit through betting markets by underperforming intentionally. 

In Australia, the manipulation of sporting competitions can also result in a criminal conviction and up to ten years in jail. Participants of a sport involved in manipulating competitions will also likely face a long ban from sport. More information can be found on the Sport Integrity Australia website.

For more information, check out the Competition Manipulation & Sports Gambling Fact Sheet.

Click here for information to help 13-17 year old’s understand Competition Manipulation and Sports Gambling Policy.

Click here to view our Competition Manipulation & Sports Gambling Policy.