Declan Hill, D.Phil.

Declan Hill headshot
Associate Professor

Division of Government and Public Service, Investigations Program
Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences
Education

D.Phil., Oxford University
B.A, University of Toronto

About Declan

Declan Hill is a journalist, academic and consultant. He is one of the world’s foremost experts on match fixing and corruption in international sports. In 2008, Hill, as a Chevening Scholar, obtained his doctorate in Sociology at the University of Oxford.

His book ‘The Fix: Organized Crime and Soccer’ has appeared in twenty-one languages. Hill was the first person to show the new danger to international sport posed by the globalization of the gambling market and match-fixing at the highest levels of professional football (soccer) including the Champions League and FIFA World Cup tournaments. Part of the book details his involvement with an Asian match-fixing gang as they travelled around the world to fix major football matches.

Hill has also published a number of academic articles, was a reviewer for Global Integrity and has probed the impact of the Russian mafia on professional ice hockey in the NHL. In 2011, he pioneered the first on-line anti-match-fixing education course for Sport Accord that was eventually used by Interpol – the International Police Force.

Declan is also the host of the Crime Waves podcast, along with his students, as he interviews people at the center of the biggest investigations in the world: prosecutors, criminals, professors, corruptors, journalists, undercover investigators, policemen, Olympic Gold Medalists, and mobsters — all primary sources, all experts, and all people with firs t-hand knowledge of the criminal world.

In his spare time, Hill is a keen amateur boxer and martial arts enthusiast. He leads groups of recreational and competitive fighters to train in Havana, Cuba. On March 31, 2012, Hill won a charity boxing match that was part of the historic Trudeau-Brazeau night – as part of Fight for the Cure in support the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

Hill speaks four languages – English, French, Spanish and (poor) Italian.

Publications

Declan Hill has written journal articles, book sections and an academic book Insider’s Guide to Match-Fixing in Football to explain the new phenomenon of globalization and match-fixing in professional sports.

Hill’s other academic interests are corruption studies, organized crime and ‘informal governance’ – or the analysis of power structures in societies that are outside formal governments.

Hill is driven by evidence-based work: research methods should fit the topic that is being examined, rather than shaping the topic to use a favourite research method. Therefore, Hill uses both qualitative (interviews, text analysis) and quantitative methods (statistics) in his research.

Hill, D., Rasmussen, C., Vittorio, M., Myers, D., "Red-flagging the leagues: the U.S. Sports most in danger from match-fixing", Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics, Volume 23, Pages 1774-1792, (2020),

Hill, D., "Jumping into Fixing", Trends in Organized Crime, Vol. 18, pages 212–228, (2015),

Hill, D. "A critical mass of corruption: why some football leagues have more match-fixing than others", International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship, (2010),

Hill, D., "How Gambling Corruptors Fix Football Matches", European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 9, Pages 411-432, (2009),

Hill, D., "To fix or not to fix? How corruptors decide to fix football matches", Global Crime, Volume 10, Pages 157-177, (2009),

Books

Declan Hill. (2013). The Insider’s Guide to Match-Fixing in Football. Anne McDermid & Associates Ltd.

Declan Hill. (2008). The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime. McClelland & Stewart Ltd.

News and In the Media

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that forcing sportsbooks to honor bets that are posted online should be upheld. Hill said, 'I would love to see a bettor go to a bookmaker and say, ‘I made a mistake, I want you to void my account.' Mate, that’s the gambling market.'

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on sports bettors who have lost money on games harassing college athletes.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that the 2018 Supreme Court decision that outlawed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, “is possibly the most significant social change in America since the end of Prohibition. … America is dancing with the devil, and there’s been virtually no discussion about it.”

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the spying scandal involving the Canadian women's soccer coaches at the Olympics, which resulted in the head coach's suspension for a year.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, wrote an op-ed after the women’s Canadian soccer coaches were caught using drones to spy on New Zealand’s practices before the team's first game at the Olympics.

In the Media

Declan Hill, an associate professor of investigations, comments on research that may solve 'America’s greatest cold case.'

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments there are no laws in Canada that explicitly ban match-fixing, threatening the integrity of sports.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on why professional athletes will continue to bet on sports and why that reason is something no one is talking about.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses his ongoing work on hundreds year old cold case to find the remains of Matoaka, known to the world as Pocahontas. He talked about an episode of his CrimeWaves podcast in which he interviewed Dr. Henry C. Lee, renowned forensic scientist and founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, about a meeting with Wayne Newton, who requested Dr. Lee find the remains of Pocahontas.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the fight for the integrity of American sports, predicting another betting scandal will happen again.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses sports leagues across North America continuing to see the escalation of players and coaches involved in gambling to change the outcome of a game. but say match-fixing is not illegal in Canada.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that the criminal code in Canada does not have specific language on match-fixing.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that sports fans need to see a separation from leagues and gambling companies, or it could jeopardize both.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses why Jontay Porters’ has received a lifetime ban from the NBA, saying, “it had to be done,” and why professional leagues are losing credibility.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, had his opinion piece in The Global and Mailreferenced in this op-ed by Ian Pattison, retied editorial page editor of the Chronicle-Journal on sports gambling.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that 'everything that makes a young athlete good at sports...all of it makes them prone to gambling.'

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, wrote an op-ed about the corruption of sports since gambling has been legalized, impacting both fans and athletes.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the allegations against professional athletes of betting on games, threatening the integrity of sports.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the same qualities that make young athletes good at sports could make them vulnerable to gambling and may make them terrible gamblers.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the rising number of athletes and coaches betting on their sports team and the impact on fans’ confidence the integrity of the games.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that leagues and governments are not invested enough in safeguards to ward off gambling in sports.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on what he calls the continued erosion of sports when gambling is involved.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on why sports leagues will have a credibility problem as players are betting on games, leaving fans to wonder if there is an integrity issue.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the number of gambling commercials during sporting events, concerns about this addictive habit, and the integrity of sports.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, and his CrimeWaves podcast were mentioned in an opinion piece about the death of Jeffrey Epstein and whether this was suicide or murder.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, and his students were mentioned for their interviews with David Schoen, Michael Baden, and Mark Epstein on the CrimeWaves with Declan Hill podcast they produced about Jeffrey Epstein.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about the Canadian government receiving the 2023 Ignoble Purpose Award from the University of New Haven’s Sports Integrity Center for refusing to call a public inquiry into abuse and corruption in Canadian sport.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, will be a featured lecturer this month to discuss the legal and regulatory issues of sports betting in the U.S., Brazil, and Europe.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that fans of the NFL will question the integrity of games as more players are suspended for gambling violations.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the merger of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, sending shockwaves through the culture of American sports.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that professional athletes may lose credibility with some fans as bookmaking becomes dominant in sports.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about sportswashing and the sudden merger of the PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on how sports betting in college has become a “silent plague” among young athletes.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the impact of the legalization of sports betting since the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act five years ago.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the trillions of dollars in revenue generated from sports betting worldwide and how it can lead to match-fixing as five NFL players have been accused of betting on games.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, was quoted by Timothy L. O'Brien, senior executive editor of Bloomberg, in his op-ed about gambling in college sports. This article was also in the featured business section of The Washington Post.

In the Media

Dr. Henry Lee, renowned forensic scientist and founder of the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science, talks to Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, about his search for Princess Pocahontas at the request of Wayne Newton.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the 'massive transformation of America' from being able to have sports betting on your phone.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses Snooker and how it has become a 'tsunami of match-fixing' in Asia.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the legalization of single-game sports betting in Canada and gambling addiction and answers questions from callers.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the suspicions of match-fixing in the European Handball Federation. Reports of potential fraud in the EHF go back as far as a 2018 report indicating players were associated with The Gypsy Clan, a known match-fixing organization.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, explains that match-fixing is not illegal in Canada and calls into question the ethics of sports. Hill's interview was conducted at the University of New Haven, featuring his program with his students.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses why the CT Lottery and its partner, PlaySugarHouse Sportsbook, should be more transparent about their rules before banning bettors for using multiple kiosks and betting under limits

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, says that gambling insti tutions often target addicts who lose a substantial amount of money. But when people begin to win large sums, they can be banned for breaking the rules.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the release of Brittney Griner from a Russian prison in exchange for arms dealer Victor Bout, known as the Merchant of Death.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about the controversy over the World Cup being hosted in Qatar amid allegations of human rights violations and possible corruption with FIFA executives.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, commented on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's silence on the World Cup being held in Qatar amid human rights violations.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, commented on the World Cup being h eld in Qatar amid human rights violations.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, was profiled for his work in investigations focusing on sports corruption and match-fixing in professional soccer.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, writes about his decision not to watch soccer due to human-rights violations in Qatar, which is hosting the 2022 World Cup.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the 1998 World Cup final between France and Brazil.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses why legalizing sports betting has not generated the expected increased tax revenues for most states, while addiction and corruption is increasing.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, spoke at a panel discussion in Strasburg on instituting a World Anti-Corruption Agency to mandate all types of corruption in sport, including match-fixing and abuse, and impose disciplinary sanctions.

In the Media

Tom Garrett, associate professor and chair of communications, and Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discuss the impact of The Godfather on culture, society, and its depiction of the mafia.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, announced that the University’s Sports Integrity Center awarded its inaugural Noble Purpose for Sports Integrity Award to Canadian law professor Richard McLaren for his work investigating corruption, doping, and institutional governance issues through his McLaren Global Sports Solutions firm.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations and director of the University of New Haven’s Sports Integrity Center, which endeavors to combat rampant corruption, doping, abuse, and match-fixing in the sports world, has announced the finalists for the Center’s first Noble Purpose Sports Integrity Awards.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about how PGA players are going to the LIV Golf and what the term sportswashing means for this Saudi-supported league.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about LIV Golf and how the PGA Tour is under a direct threat from the Saudi Arabia-sponsored initiative and what’s called “sportswashing.”

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about how the PGA is in significant trouble as LIV Golf players are getting hundreds of millions of dollars as human rights-challenged regimes use sports to divert attention.

In the Media

Declan Hill, professor of investigations, talks about how sports have become a vehicle for gambling and, for some, an addiction.

In the Media

Declan Hill, professor of investigations, wrote an opinion examining how sports fans are watching games, explaining that they are being overwhelmed by ads for gambling during broadcasts.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses whether sports gambling should be legalized and the issue of ghost-fixing in sports leagues.

In the Media

Vahid Behzadan, assistant professor of cybersecurity, computer and electrical engineering; Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations; Olena Lennon, an adjunct professor of political science and international affairs; David Sacco, a practitioner in residence of finance; and Howard Stoffer, professor of national security and international affairs, took part in a panel discussion on the war in Ukraine and it’s impact. The special program was part of collaboration with WFSB, with the show airing on WFSB+ and WFSB’s Facebook page.

In the Media

Vahid Behzadan, assistant professor of cybersecurity, computer and electrical engineering; Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations; Olena Lennon, an adjunct professor of political science and international affairs; David Sacco, a practitioner in residence of finance; and Howard Stoffer, professor of national security and international affairs, took part in a panel discussion on the war in Ukraine and its impact. The special program was part of collaboration with WFSB, with the show airing on WFSB+ and WFSB’s Facebook page.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, said there is a 'silent plague' involving coaches and athletes who are addicted to gambling and computer gaming.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, who grew up in Ottawa, Canada, discusses the “freedom convoy” trucker protests and Justin Trudeau as well as his podcast ‘Crime Waves’.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, says “it is profoundly important for sports organizations to say and do the right things” as Russian sports teams are sanctioned globally.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about new betting apps that are legal for children over four years old that, he says, are hooking them to gambling like cigarette ads in the '80s.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, says the allegations from former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is “the largest controversy… the National Football League has ever faced.”

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about the allegations made by Brian Flores that he was asked by the owner of the Miami Dolphins to tank games.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about the graduate certificate in Sports Integrity program at the University of New Haven and some of the most infamous match-fixers that have spoken to his classes.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, Ron Johnson, ’20 M.S., and Matthew Lind, ’19,’21 M.S., discuss the Investigations program offered at the University of New Haven and learn how to spot corruption in a game, such as the match between St. John’s Red Storm and the Wagner Seahawks in December 2018.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that research shows sports betting is harmful to young men 14 to 35 and it can be as addictive as crack cocaine.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, remarks on Maryland's new law that names the venues for a temporary license on sports gambling.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses the concerns for legalized gambling for those that only watch sports to bet on a game.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, predicts the rate of gambling additions will rise when online gaming and sports betting becomes legal in Connecticut.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the growing number of sports betting sites advertising during televised sporting events.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, was interviewed about gambling addictions and called it a 'proverbial tsunami' as Connecticut moves forward with sports betting.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on whether professional athletes should be allowed to gamble on anything as the NHL investigates allegations against Evander Kane.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, and his students hosted Joe Pistone, a former FBI agent aka Donnie Brasco, for The CrimeWaves podcast series.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, hosted keynote speaker Michael Franzese at the Center for Sports Integrity for an interview with his students.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that states must insist on stricter federal oversight of the gambling industry.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments if players are underpaid match fixing is more likely.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments that legalized gambling in Canada will address the issue of organized crime taking illegal bets.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on an investigation into Sharks’ Evander Kane for allegedly failing to pay back gambling markers identified in his bankruptcy papers.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, wrote an op-ed on Canada’s Bill C-13 to legalize single-event sports gambling.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the dangers of betting fraud and corruption in sports in the United States.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on how those addicted to gambling will now bet on anything.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on how the Connecticut casinos and gambling venues are doing during the pandemic.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on match fixing in Sweden.

In the Media

Declan Hill, assistant professor of investigations, discusses the impact on sports, gambling and organized crime during the pandemic.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the recent indictment of players that were losing purposely to win bets.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, talks about corruption in sports, including launching the new Sports Integrity Graduate Certification.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses how sportsbooks are searching for their customers to make bets.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, discusses match fixing on Australian radio.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the impact of the coronavirus on sports gambling.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of criminal justice, will present new research on U.S. sports betting legislation and gambling corruption at the "Play the Game" conference on match fixing.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, met with a former member of a notorious match-fixing gang to discuss game fixing in high-profile sporting events- despite anti-fixing initiatives by the sports industry.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, comments on the threat posed to soccer as FIFA President Gianni Infantino prepares to take office for a second term, foregoing the re-election process.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, thinks that it is about time that a conversation is started about how to tackle the problem of match-fixing once and for all.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, will be one of the keynote speakers at the 2019 Symposium on Match Manipulation and Gambling in Sport.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, shares his thoughts about the SNC-Lavalin case and commenting about the possible case of political corruption within the Canadian government.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, shares his thoughts about a case involving SNC-Lavalin that has been called the "biggest fraud in Canadian history."

In the Media

Declan Hill, an associate professor of investigations, writes about the effects of a changing Canadian legal system.

In the Media

Declan Hill, an associate professor of investigations, talks about the implications of WADA’s decision and the response thus far from the professional sports community.

In the Media

Declan Hill, an associate professor of investigations, shares his thoughts on an investigative documentary focused on corruption in African sports.

In the Media

Declan Hill, associate professor of investigations, shares his thoughts regarding the new FIFA code of ethics.