Key Takeaways
- Sportradar has been named official betting integrity partner by Premier Padel and FIP, utilizing its Universal Fraud Detection System to identify irregular betting patterns.
- iGame Media has been chosen as the exclusive betting technology and distribution partner to launch a regulated betting data ecosystem starting in 2027.
- Luigi Carraro emphasized: “Integrity is fundamental to the future of padel and to everything we are building together as an international sporting community.”
Comprehensive integrity framework introduced for professional padel
Premier Padel and the International Padel Federation (FIP) have appointed sports technology company Sportradar as their official betting integrity partner. The alliance is designed to reinforce safeguards across professional padel and its tournaments amid the sport’s rapid international expansion.
Alongside the Sportradar agreement, iGame Media has been chosen as Premier Padel’s exclusive official partner for betting technology and distribution. Starting from the 2027 season, this collaboration will establish a regulated betting framework encompassing all matches on the professional men’s and women’s Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour. Under this system, licensed sportsbooks will receive official betting products powered by in-venue umpire data and low-latency live streaming feeds.
Universal Fraud Detection System and educational initiatives
Sportradar will deploy its Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS), an AI-driven monitoring platform combined with expert analysis, to track global betting markets and detect irregular patterns that might signal match-fixing. When suspicious activity arises, the system alerts governing partners.
Beyond active betting surveillance, Sportradar will assist FIP and Premier Padel with educational and training schemes focused on prevention and risk mitigation. These efforts build upon FIP’s ongoing integrity initiatives, which include operating as a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, collaborating with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on competition manipulation prevention, and partnering with the International Testing Agency (ITA) for independent anti-doping management.
Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation, stressed the significance of safeguarding the sport’s reputation as it expands its commercial footprint.
“Integrity is fundamental to the future of padel and to everything we are building together as an international sporting community. FIP is investing significantly in this area – from adopting the Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, to our collaboration with the IOC, education programmes for players, coaches, officials and National Federations, and the development of stronger reporting and safeguarding mechanisms.”
Carraro added: “As our professional competitions grow, it is important that we have visibility and oversight of the way official sporting data is used. This partnership with Sportradar therefore sits within a much broader programme of work to ensure padel continues to develop responsibly, transparently and with the highest possible standards of sporting integrity.”
Strategic reinvestment into sport development
FIP is also establishing dedicated reporting channels across its digital platforms to help players, coaches and officials raise integrity concerns. The international governing body works in conjunction with National Federations, player associations and the Professional Padel Players Coaches Association (PPPCA) to coordinate educational webinars and integrity workshops.
Andreas Krannich, Executive Vice President, Integrity Services at Sportradar, highlighted the collective commitment to maintaining clean competition: “We are proud to partner with Premier Padel and FIP, and support the protection of their competitions through our market-leading UFDS AI and Integrity Education. By combining advanced technology, extensive betting-market visibility and specialist integrity expertise, we will help identify potential risks at the earliest opportunity and strengthen the integrity framework around the sport worldwide.”
Revenues created through the commercial agreements are earmarked for direct reinvestment across all tiers of the game.
David Sugden, CEO of Premier Padel, noted: “Padel’s incredible growth is creating significant new opportunities for the sport, and with that comes a responsibility to make sure that growth benefits its long-term future. Partnerships like this generate revenues that we can reinvest in the professional game, our players, our events and the fan experience, helping us continue to develop the sport and its ecosystem around the world.”
