The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that three Nigerian tennis players have been sanctioned for breaches of the Tennis Anti-Corruption Programme (TACP).

The sanctions are linked to a criminal case heard in 2023 involving a match-fixing syndicate in Belgium. Collaboration between the ITIA and Belgian authorities led to a five-year custodial sentence for the leader of the syndicate, Grigor Sargsyan.

The three players’ cases were ruled on by independent Anti-Corruption Hearing Officer (AHO) Amani Khalifa.

35-year-old Henry Atseye, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1518 in September 2015, admitted to six breaches of the TACP across 2017 and 2018. The player admitted to collaborating with Karim Hossam (who was issued a lifetime ban in 2018) to commit corruption offenses, including facilitating wagering and contriving the outcome of three matches.

Atseye was issued a suspension of two years and six months, alongside a fine of $10,000. The suspension began on 14 October 2024, and will end on 13 April 2027.

Sylvester Emmanuel and Christian Paul did not respond to ITIA charges, effectively accepting liability and acceding to sanctions, as outlined under section G.1.e of the TACP.

26-year-old Emmanuel, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1097 in December 2016, and 29-year-old Paul, who reached a career-high world singles ranking of 1257 in May 2016, were found liable for six breaches of the TACP across 2017 and 2018 – including facilitating wagering, contriving the outcome of matches, receipt of money and failure to report corrupt approaches.

Emmanuel and Paul were issued suspensions of three years, alongside fines of $10,000. The suspensions began on 6 November 2024, and will end on 5 November 2027.

During their periods of ineligibility, the players are prohibited from playing in, coaching at, or attending any tennis event authorised or sanctioned by the members of the ITIA (ATP, ITF, WTA, Tennis Australia, Fédération Française de Tennis Wimbledon and USTA) or any national association.

The ITIA is an independent body established by its tennis members to promote, encourage, enhance and safeguard the integrity of professional tennis events worldwide.

FeedConstruct has announced an innovative new partnership with Betinvest, integrating Betinvest’s exclusive esports and fast sports solutions to enhance FeedConstruct’s innovative Odds Aggregator Platform. Due to this partnership, bettors will now enjoy access to over 30,000 monthly events, expanding their choices with a wide range of unique sports and esports content.

Extending the Fast Sports Options

As part of this collaboration, Betinvest delivers exclusive fast sports solutions to FeedConstruct across several popular sports:

Table Tennis: With the TT EURO.CUP and WINCUP leagues, table tennis fans can now enjoy a constant stream of top-tier events, featuring reliable odds and real-time data.

Short Football: The thrilling Winners Goal Pro Cup offers a fast-paced football format, perfect for bettors seeking quick outcomes.

Beach Volleyball: The Winners beach volleyball series adds vibrant matches to the betting world, attracting the growing fan base of this sport.

Enhancing Esports Betting

Alongside fast sports, Betinvest will bring its extensive esports portfolio to the table. Events like CyberLive!Arena and Esport Pro Club will offer top-tier esports action, complete with rich data, reliable odds and premium live streams. With the esports sector’s growing popularity, the partnership ensures that bettors gain access to high-class tournaments and comprehensive statistics to enhance their betting experience.

The Value of This Partnership

Through its partnership with Betinvest, FeedConstruct’s Odds Aggregation Platform will cover a broader range of events, ensuring an engaging betting experience. In addition, FeedConstruct’s platform offers Betinvest the chance to reach a larger audience, boosting its market presence and visibility.

Odds Aggregation Platform provides extensive coverage with a wide selection of odds from leading providers. What distinguishes FeedConstruct’s platform is its simplicity and efficiency, offering a single point of access to multiple odds providers without the need for complex, individual integrations.

Dmytro Hnoievyi, CEO of Betinvest, said: “As we continue to push the boundaries of innovation at Betinvest, our partnership with FeedConstruct marks a significant milestone. By integrating our exclusive fast sports and esports solutions, we are becoming part of a groundbreaking platform that represents the future of sports betting.

FeedConstruct’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge sports data and streaming solutions aligns perfectly with our vision. Their reliable technology, vast experience, and dedication to accuracy make FeedConstruct an ideal partner for expanding our offering. We will definitely set new standards in sports and esports betting, and we are utterly confident that together we will make it happen. We are excited about the future and the value this partnership brings to the sports betting industry.”

Narek Harutyunyan, CEO at FeedConstruct, said: “It’s a great opportunity to enter into this partnership with Betinvest, an international sports entertainment tech provider. We are confident that this partnership will enhance the sports entertainment experience for audiences worldwide, and we look forward to a successful and dynamic collaboration.”

PayBy Technology Projects LLC, an Astra Tech company and one of the UAE’s leading fintech platforms, announced that it has been awarded a gaming-related license by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), the federal entity overseeing commercial gaming activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The award allows PayBy to provide financial services to GCGRA-licensed commercial gaming operators, marking a new milestone in the Authority’s endeavour to establish a well-regulated commercial gaming sector in the UAE.

As the first fintech to secure such a licence, PayBy will operate under the “Gaming-Related Vendor License” category. The company is now authorised to provide a range of services, including digital wallets, secure payments and advanced fraud detection systems, aligning with the GCGRA’s vision of creating a secure and innovative gaming environment that prioritises player safety.

Astra Tech’s Ultra app ecosystem integrates payments, remittances, lending and now gaming-related services into a unified platform serving over 150 million users globally. Through strategic partnerships with global leaders like MoneyGram and Mastercard, Astra Tech continues to expand its reach and impact, delivering seamless financial solutions.