Match fixing is one of the most controversial aspects of sports betting, and has plagued the system over the years. It is the primary reason why so many regulations are in place in various countries. In organized sports it occurs when a player is paid a bribe to completely or partially alter the course of a match to coincide with a predetermined result, thus violating the overall rules of the game, not to mention the law. Sports betting’s reputation has come into question over such incidents. This can apply to races, which is called race fixing, and can also be termed as a thrown game. Keep in mind that there is a difference between match fixing and tanking a game, when a sports team will intentionally lose to obtain a perceived future competitive advantage without any sort of competitive wager involved.
Match fixing as it relates to sports betting is always motivated by money, and can involve any number of individuals from the gamblers themselves to players, team officials, and even referees. In regards to the NHL and NBA, there have been a wide number of accusations thrown around regarding some of the teams at the lower ranks who have been specifically accused of tanking games at the end of the season to finish with the worst record in the league, which allowed them the first draft pick the following year. This type of match fixing was resolved when these sports leagues introduced the draft lottery, which keeps the first draft pick limited to a random choice.