Launched in 2015, Football Index markets itself as a stock market for football players, and operates under licences from the British and Jersey Gambling Commissions. The business is also active in sports sponsorship, with its branding appearing on Championship clubs Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest’s kits.
While its business model marks it as separate from IBIA’s core sportsbook members, its affiliate membership will allow it to participate in the integrity activities run by the association.
“The company’s operation may differ from traditional sportsbooks, but it is no less committed to maintaining the integrity of its product and the sporting events on which it is based,” IBIA chief executive Khalid Ali said. “Football Index’s integrity ethos therefore aligns with IBIA’s and its membership is another example of the association’s wide-ranging appeal and burgeoning roster of companies engaging with it globally.”
Neil Kelly, chief executive of Football Index parent BetIndex, added that maintaining the integrity of its operations remained “paramount” to the operator.
“Our customers have come to expect a high level of product security which we are determined to continue delivering,” Kelly explained. “As such, we are thrilled to join the IBIA. The association’s wide recognition as the preeminent global sports betting integrity body makes it the ideal partner for Football Index, as we strive to further place the integrity of our product at the heart of our business operations.”
The announcement of IBIA’s latest affiliate member follows the association announcing DraftKings has its latest full member. That agreement, announced last week, will also see DraftKings’ B2B clients, using its SBTech sports betting technology, gain access to IBIA’s monitoring and alert platform.