Two professional darts players receive suspensions for alleged match-fixing
Kyle McKinstry and Wessel Nijman given bans as IBIA alerts platform identifies suspicious betting patterns
Two professional darts players have received suspensions from the Darts Regulatory Authority (DRA) following reports of suspicious betting on matches identified by the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA).
The DRA has suspended Kyle McKinstry and Wessel Nijman following separate investigations after the IBIA reported suspicious betting patterns on its monitoring platform.
On 30 April, Kyle McKinstry lost a match against David Evans in the Modus ‘A Night at the Darts’ series 5-0, with suspicious betting patterns later flagged up by the IBIA through its membership.
Later in May, further suspicious betting was spotted in a match between McKinstry and Nijman, leading to an investigation by the DRA.
In a separate case, a match between Wessel Nijman and David Evans during the Modus ‘Icons of Darts’ series was also investigated after suspicious betting patterns were reported by the IBIA. Nijman lost the match 4-0.
Officials from the DRA worked closely with Sportradar Integrity Services, the Gambling Commission Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, Malta Gaming Authority, Gibraltar Gambling Regulator and several betting operators.
The DRA concluded that McKinstry could be charged with two counts of match-fixing, while Nijman was charged with one count. It noted there was no suspicion of match-fixing against opponent David Evans, who was involved in both matches reported.
McKinstry has been suspended from attending or competing in DRA-sanctioned events until the conclusion of the hearings into the alleged suspicious betting. A formal hearing will be convened by the DRA’s disciplinary committee later this year.
Following investigation, Nijman has also been suspended from attending or competing in DRA matches, pending a full disciplinary committee hearing.
It is understood that McKinstry plans to appeal against his suspension.
In a statement concerning his suspension released by the Professional Darts Players Association, Wessel Nijman admitted to the offences and expressed “sincere regret” for the mistake he had made in fixing the match.
“I was put under some pressure to lose a match and I agreed to do this. I have admitted the offence and take full responsibility for it and will accept my punishment,” said Nijman.
“I should have spoken to my management, the PDPA, DRA or police when I was put in this position and would advise any other player who finds themselves in a similar position to do that.
“Instead, I went along with it and made a stupid mistake that I am rightly being punished for,” he added.
The DRA has data-sharing agreements with a number of integrity-focused organisations including the IBIA, Malta Gaming Authority’s Sports Integrity Unit and similar organisations across Europe.