Rob Wainwright, police chief of Europol, said that this problem was not just limited to Asian organized crime groups. There are ongoing investigations into Russian mafia groups and a few organized crime groups from the western Balkans.
Russian organized crime groups are active across many sectors. Wainwright said that it is not surprising that they are suspected to be involved in match fixing, especially when it is high profit and low risk in nature, RAPSI reports.
On July 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a bill that lengthens the maximum penalty for match-fixing to seven years in prison. The law makes it an offense for athletes, coaches, and officials to bet on their own sports. If convicted, lawbreakers could face prison time and a $30,000 fine.
