IAGR2025 session:
Efforts to combat match-fixing and sports betting-regulated corruption: An Australian approach
The evolving nature of sports betting and competition manipulation, driven by commercialisation and technology, presents complex and globalised risks beyond the control of any single stakeholder.
Australia’s mature, well-regulated gambling environment helps reduce the appeal of domestic markets to criminal syndicates. However, the growing complexity and scale of sports betting demand proactive management of integrity risks.
This session will examine how Sport Integrity Australia is addressing match-fixing and betting-related corruption, both domestically and internationally. It will outline key measures, including national match-fixing laws, a transition to a national platform, and sport-specific policies to strengthen Australia’s defences against these threats.
About Lara:
Lara Hayes is the Director of Sports Wagering and Competition Manipulation at Sport Integrity Australia. Prior to this, she held various roles with the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Commonwealth Department of Health, where she developed and implemented key policy initiatives and regulatory frameworks with a focus on governance reform and integrity outcomes.
In her current role, Lara provides leadership and strategic direction for Sport Integrity Australia’s competition manipulation and sports wagering functions. She leads a significant policy reform agenda, including the implementation of the Australian Sports Wagering Scheme, the ratification of the Council of Europe’s Macolin Convention, and the establishment of Commonwealth Match-fixing Offences, as well as managing Australia’s National Platform capability. Lara’s work focuses on enhancing the integrity and governance of sports through innovative policy solutions and strategic stakeholder engagement.
