Hypothesis #1:

Sports officials apart of professional leagues and refs are manipulating the outcomes of professional sporting events for their own financial gain.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612309000191?casa_token=0gnGiG_4zocAAAAA:d1cn9tX8uVpjLW1Ga3D7n4h01SC-dc5pS1hkTpSV1HLYd6yeh-yn2zF8pvIq8Gvhy4mqmn02ohE

Background: This article tests and looks at certain data to see point shaving in the NCAA. Strong favorites, previously believed to be the most likely candidates to engage in point shaving, may instead be the least likely. They propose that a shift in coaching strategy late in blowout games explains the anomalous bet outcome distribution patterns. Favorites in NCAA basketball win yet fail to cover the spread at a rate significantly greater than expected. Wolfers suggests widespread point shaving causes this phenomenon. Players on the strongest favorites appear to be the least likely to have fixed prior games.

How I intend to use it: I can use the findings from this article in a research paper by incorporating it into my discussion of point shaving in NCAA basketball and exploring the potential reasons for the anomalous bet outcome distribution patterns. I could discuss the findings that favorites in NCAA basketball win yet fail to cover the spread at a higher rate than expected and how this phenomenon may be caused by widespread point-shaving. Additionally, I could discuss the proposal that a shift in coaching strategy late in blowout games could explain these patterns and the suggestion that players on the strongest favorites may be the least likely to have fixed prior games.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09523367.2018.1476341

Background: This shows that match-fixing has been a major and substantial long-standing historical continuity in sports usually but not always linked to gambling and sporting materialism. Examples are brought forward to show that it could be found in Ancient Greece and Egypt and was widespread across the early modern and modern periods in Britain, America, and Australia. It concludes by suggesting some key questions that a future agenda for the historical study of match-fixing might address and gives many other articles about match-fixing.

How I intend to use it: I intend to use this article by using the different various sources listed to do my basic research on match-fixing in a historical context. I think we can look back and see how it has lasted years and if it lasted then, then it most definitely exists now.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-77389-6_6

Background: Match-fixing, whether to gain a sporting advantage or facilitate gains from betting, has been present throughout the history of organized sports. But its prevalence appears to have increased sharply since the Millennium. Criminals can place larger bets and make greater profits from buying fixes from players. This gives notes about specific examples of match-fixing.

How I intend to use it: I can use the information on the background of match-fixing in a research paper by including it as the context in the introduction of your paper. I could also discuss the historical presence of match-fixing in organized sports and the increase in its prevalence since the turn of the Millennium. I also could highlight the motivations behind match-fixing, such as gaining a sporting advantage or profiting from betting, and how criminals can make larger profits by buying fixes from players. This information can be used to set the stage for my discussion on the specific examples of match-fixing that you will be exploring in my research paper.

https://deliverypdf.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=123003017068029121069004101001094002035005000074066087090121006004123080030025019119100028043014103061021011013024066006072090000053057080086030027070097110080068017041072112025091086093125071073103113121067074002117117092098069122097096114000001&EXT=pdf&INDEX=TRUE

Background: This takes a look at 1,251 Bundesliga 1 football matches from 2010/11 to 2014/15 and shows that bet volume in the Betfair markets in these matches was systematically higher for four referees. Our results are robust to alternative speculations and are thus suggestive of potentially existing match-fixing and corruption in the German Bundesliga.

How I intend to use it: I can use the findings from this study in my research paper about referees fixing matches for their own financial gain by incorporating it into your discussion of match-fixing in the German Bundesliga. I could mention the study’s examination of 1,251 Bundesliga 1 football matches and the finding that bet volume in the Betfair markets was systematically higher for four referees, which is suggestive of potential match-fixing and corruption. Then, use these findings to support my argument on the issue of referees engaging in match-fixing for their own financial gain. Additionally, I could discuss the robustness of the results to alternative speculations, adding further credibility to the findings of the study.

https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA249138225&sid=googleScholar&v=2.1&it=r&linkaccess=abs&issn=15677559&p=AONE&sw=w&userGroupName=anon%7Ea3394f08

Background: For this article, I just wanted a source that showed the general summary of sports betting and how it could easily be manipulated by referees for their own financial gain. And more importantly about the history in the United States is important for my argument as well. This was more extensive and had lots of information:

How I intend to use it: I can use this to explore the context and development of the issue of referees potentially rigging games for their own financial gain. I could discuss the evolution of sports betting in the US, including any legal changes or challenges, and how this has affected the sports betting industry. Then, also examine any instances of match-fixing or corruption in US sports and the impact that these have had on public perception and trust in the fairness of sporting events. This historical context can provide background and support for my argument on the issue of referees potentially rigging games for financial gain, and can be used to illustrate the need for greater oversight and transparency in the sports industry.