United Lotteries for Integrity in Sports (ULIS) took part in the 2026 Sarawak National Sports Integrity Conference (SNSIC), held from 28 to 30 September in Kuching, Malaysia, as the country prepares to host the 2027 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
Organised by the Sarawak state government with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the conference aimed to protect the Games and other major sports events from corruption. It positioned the 2027 SEA Games as an important opportunity to establish a meaningful legacy of institutional integrity and cooperation in Malaysia and across Southeast Asia.
While the SEA Games can generate economic growth, infrastructure development and regional cooperation, organisers also said the event presents heightened integrity risks, including:
- Competition manipulation and illegal betting
- Public procurement and infrastructure delivery
- Money laundering and illicit financial flows
- Cross-border coordination and information-sharing challenges
ULIS contributed to the three-day event through ULIS Operations Manager Daniel Chan, who joined three panel sessions covering the detection and reporting of criminal activity, case studies involving competition manipulation, and specialised investigative and prosecutorial tools for sports corruption.
Targeted at public authorities and integrity stakeholders directly responsible for the planning, delivery, oversight and protection of the 2027 SEA Games, the conference attracted some 350 participants on Day 1.
Days 2 and 3 featured targeted technical workshops for law enforcement officers, legal personnel, and sports administrators designed to build stronger operational frameworks, cross-agency coordination, and early-detection networks ahead of the Games.
Sharing Global Expertise
Drawing on ULIS’s global monitoring experience and network of international partners, Chan joined experts from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Hong Kong Jockey Club, international sports federations, police and legal bodies, and UNODC to discuss competition manipulation and illegal betting.
Delegates were shown how the manipulation of competitions is not confined to throwing matches outright. Panellists illustrated how insider information, spot-fixing, and targeted coercion can affect athletes, referees, coaches, and support staff alike.
Panellists also discussed the scale of illegal betting. The UNODC Global Report on Corruption in Sport (2021) cites estimates that between up to USD 1.7 trillion is wagered on illegal betting markets each year. Delegates heard how illegal betting platforms remain a major source of funding for organised crime, money laundering and match manipulation, and that countering this threat requires multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Stronger Together
A key takeaway from the Kuching sessions was the complementary nature of sporting disciplinary measures and criminal proceedings. Because sporting bodies and law enforcement operate in different spheres and under different legal mandates, establishing trusted inter-agency task forces and clear information-sharing protocols before a crisis strikes is imperative.
ULIS highlighted how lottery-driven integrity monitoring acts as a vital bridge, turning raw betting data into actionable intelligence that law enforcement and sports governing bodies can use within their respective jurisdictions.
Looking Ahead to SEA Games 2027
As preparations for next year’s SEA Games gather momentum, ULIS remains committed to working alongside UNODC, national governments, sports organisations and its member lotteries to protect sport from competition manipulation.
By sharing real-time monitoring methodologies, conducting practical scenario-based training, and supporting targeted educational activities, ULIS continues to help protect the spirit of fair play across Asia and around the world.
The 2027 SEA Games are scheduled to take place from 18 to 29 September 2027 in Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak, Penang, and Johor, Malaysia.
Photo (from left to right): Benjamin Ho (Deputy Executive Manager, Racing Security and Integrity Assurance, at The Hong Kong Jockey Club), Ronan O'Laoire (Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer at UNODC), Douglas Robinson (International Illegal Betting Research and Liaison Executive at IFHA, Executive Due Diligence & Research Manager at HKJC), Nicholas Chan (EXCO Member, Sports Law Association Malaysia), Andy Hines-Randle (Deputy Director - Integrity, BWF), Daniel Chan (Operations Manager, ULIS)
