The Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV) has announced a comprehensive, multi-year partnership with Sportradar Group, a leading global sports technology company, to strengthen the performance of its athletes, from grassroots to professional levels of the sport.

Starting this season, Sportradar will leverage computer vision to capture deep data from CBV matches and training sessions, on the beach and the court, to create detailed metrics and dynamic visualizations from every rally, point and match, providing teams and coaches with valuable insights that will contribute to the growth and success of Brazilian volleyball.

In collaboration with fellow CBV partner VolleyStation, Sportradar will implement several additional technology upgrades for the federation. These include a new Video Checking System at 22 training venues to improve officiating; a Brazilian Player Data Hub to track athlete development; and automated data collection and video production capabilities at the national team training center in Saquarema.

In addition, CBV will partner with Sportradar to safeguard more than 7400 annual CBV competitions from corruption and match-fixing through Sportradar’s industry-leading Universal Fraud Detection System (UFDS) and educational workshops for athletes, administrators, and referees.

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“We are delighted CBV has selected Sportradar to transform sports performance for Brazilian volleyball. Through this partnership, we are equipping CBV with the deep data and insights to identify the next generation of champions, as well as ensuring the integrity of their competitions,” said Sergio Floris, Managing Director Brazil, Sportradar.

“The partnership with Sportradar yields important results, such as the implementation of the challenge system in all Superliga matches, bringing even more security and fairness to the games. In addition, the specific data of each athlete is a fundamental tool for the development of national volleyball,” said Jorge Bichara, Technical Director of CBV.

“We are pleased with our partnership with Sportradar through its portfolio of products and services to enhance CBV’s technical, operational, and commercial efficiency. This is another important step in our ongoing efforts to improve the relationship between fans and the sport. The data provided by Sportradar will enable the development of new experiences for fans and new revenue opportunities for CBV,” said Henrique Netto, CBV’s Director of Marketing and New Business.

The Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division has issued a summary suspension of the license for Online Gaming Service Provider, High5Games.

High5Games is a licensed service provider that develops and provides online slot content for the legal gaming platforms in Connecticut. The Gaming Division’s investigation determined that High5Games also illegally operates an unlicensed online casino, High5Casino.

High5Casino was marketed by High5Games as a legal “licensed” casino and accepted wagers from Connecticut bettors, including individuals who had signed up for the statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion List.

There are only two legal platforms licensed to accept iCasino wagers from Connecticut consumers: FanDuel and DraftKings. They are affiliated with Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Casino, respectively.

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The DCP Gaming Division investigation determined that 1100 Connecticut customers made deposits and gambled on the unlicensed High5Casino platform. Of those, 911 customers lost a total of $937,938, and 108 were individuals who had signed up for the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List. Customers on the Voluntary Self-Exclusion List lost nearly $300,000 on the platform.

High5Games, a majority owner of High5Casino, will be charged with 1065 criminal counts of conducting illegal gaming activity. Gaming Division Criminal Investigators will seek criminal charges for all of the violations of Connecticut’s gaming laws, for which each charge is a Class A misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2000.

DCP will seek restitution for eligible consumers who suffered a financial loss after being misled to believe that High5Casino was a legal form of gaming in Connecticut.

“Thank you to our Gaming Division team for their hard work to hold this licensee accountable. It is a privilege to hold this license, and we expect our credential holders to take that responsibility seriously. High5Games took advantage of their credential to mislead consumers into believing they were participating in gaming on a legal platform when, in fact, they were breaking the law. We remind consumers that there are only two licensed online casinos in Connecticut — DraftKings/Foxwoods and FanDuel/Mohegan Sun — and if you choose to participate in online gaming, you should only utilize one of the legal platforms licensed to operate in our state,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli.

“We are disappointed that a licensed gaming service provider took advantage of Connecticut consumers by operating an illegal casino platform. It is difficult to recover funds for consumers from illegal platforms. We remind consumers that gambling on licensed platforms is the only way to guarantee recovered funds in the event of an issue with a game or platform,” said DCP Gaming Division Director Kris Gilman.

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A new study published in JAMA Psychiatry has found that sports gambling frequency and alcohol-related problems are strongly associated over time, reinforcing concerns about the potential health risks of concurrent gambling and drinking behaviors.

The study, funded by the International Center for Responsible Gaming (ICRG), analyzed data from over 4300 U.S. adults over two years. Researchers found that while alcohol-related problems slightly decreased over time, fluctuations in sports gambling frequency were closely tied to changes in alcohol-related harms. These findings suggest that individuals who engage in both activities may be at heightened risk of developing problematic drinking behaviors.

“These results emphasize the need for screening and intervention strategies targeting sports gamblers who also drink. It is quite likely that these behaviors are interacting in such a way that may increase the risks associated with both. Given the increasing accessibility of sports gambling in the U.S., understanding the health implications of these behaviors is critical,” said lead author Dr. Joshua B. Grubbs of the University of New Mexico.

The ICRG, the largest independent funder of gambling research in the US, has supported multiple studies aimed at understanding the risks associated with sports wagering. Dr. Grubbs’ latest research builds on his extensive body of work, which has resulted in 12 peer-reviewed publications examining gambling behaviors, addiction risks, and responsible gambling strategies. Supported by ICRG funding, his studies have significantly contributed to the understanding of these critical issues.

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Among prior ICRG-supported findings:

• Sports bettors are at a higher risk for addiction than other gambling groups, with a strong connection to binge drinking. (JAMA Network Open, 2024)

• Impulsivity is a key predictor of high-risk gambling behaviors, underscoring the need for targeted intervention strategies. (Addictive Behaviors, 2024)

• Responsible gambling strategies must be tailored to different types of sports betting, as not all forms carry the same level of risk. (Journal of Gambling Studies, 2024)

• Marginalized communities face unique gambling challenges, requiring culturally sensitive harm-reduction strategies. (Addictive Behaviors, 2023)

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“As sports gambling continues to expand, research like this is essential for understanding the broader public health implications. ICRG remains committed to funding rigorous, independent studies that contribute to evidence-based solutions for responsible gambling,” said Art Paikowsky, President of ICRG.