Peru cracks down on match-fixing, mandates integrity charter for betting firms
Summary
Peru’s Congress has amended the Penal Code to add Article 197-A, formally criminalising match-fixing and tightening obligations on licensed betting operators. The new law prescribes prison terms of 3–6 years for anyone who directly or indirectly influences the outcome of a sporting event, rising to 4–8 years when the manipulation is linked to licensed sportsbooks or affiliated brands. All licensed bookmakers must now sign a formally endorsed integrity charter. The reforms cover a wide range of participants — athletes, referees, coaches, club and federation directors, medical staff and agents — aiming to strengthen sport integrity as the country’s regulated online gambling market expands.
Key Points
- Article 197-A criminalises match-fixing: 3–6 years’ imprisonment for direct or indirect manipulation of sporting results.
- Penalties increase to 4–8 years if the offence involves licensed betting operators or their affiliates.
- Licensed bookmakers are required to sign an official integrity charter endorsed by senior executives.
- The law’s scope includes players, officials, coaches, medical staff, agents and club/federation directors.
- Reforms follow the launch of Peru’s regulated online gambling market and come amid a contested 1% Selective Consumption Tax (ISC) on wagers ordered by the president.
- Operators warn the ISC could destabilise the regulated sector and have launched legal challenges.
Content summary
The legal change embeds anti-match-fixing measures into criminal law and makes compliance obligations explicit for betting firms. It is a dual-pronged approach: punish offenders with custodial sentences and force licensed operators to adopt formal integrity measures. The move is intended to deter corruption as the local iGaming market grows, but it arrives alongside political and fiscal tensions — notably a newly applied ISC that industry players say may harm the regulated market’s viability.
Context and relevance
Peru’s decision is significant for regulators, operators and sports bodies. By imposing criminal penalties and mandatory charter commitments, the government signals a tougher stance on corruption in sport. At the same time, the tax dispute highlights how regulation and fiscal policy can pull the market in opposite directions — improving integrity on one hand while threatening commercial sustainability on the other. The outcome will influence compliance demands, contractual risk, and how operators price and run services in Peru.
Why should I read this?
Because this actually changes the game. New criminal penalties plus a signed, exec-endorsed integrity charter mean anyone involved in Peruvian sport or betting now faces proper legal teeth. If you work in gambling compliance, sports governance, or operate in the market, you need to know how this rewrites risk, duties and potential liabilities — and whether the ongoing tax fight will sink or shore up the regulated sector. We skimmed the nitty-gritty so you don’t have to.