The AGCO has banned sportsbooks in Ontario from providing betting on UFC fights as a result of integrity points. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
A tough stance
Ontario residents can not legally place sports activities bets on UFC fights as a result of considerations over the integrity of the sporting physique.
non-compliance with AGCO’s betting integrity necessities.”
The Alcohol and Gaming Fee of Ontario (AGCO) introduced the transfer on Thursday. The gaming regulator ordered all registered operators to cease accepting UFC wagers “as a result of non-compliance with AGCO’s betting integrity necessities.”
As per the AGCO’s guidelines, sports activities governing our bodies must implement codes of conduct that cease insiders from participating in betting whereas additionally implementing safeguards to stop match-fixing.
Considerations over insider betting
In its press launch saying the ban on Thursday, the AGCO mentioned UFC doesn’t totally prohibit all insiders from wagering on its fights, comparable to coaches, handlers, medical professionals, managers, and different individuals who might need entry to insider data.
The AGCO determined to take motion as a result of plenty of current incidents, comparable to stories of suspicious betting patterns for fights and allegations of insiders betting on the end result of bouts.
In an announcement, AGCO CEO and registrar Tom Mungham asserted that insider betting guidelines are in place to guard the general public. He additionally mentioned that the UFC betting ban was not a choice that was made frivolously because it’s a well-liked wagering market.
The AGCO mentioned it’s dedicated to working with sportsbook operators, the UFC, and different events to attempt to deliver a couple of return of UFC betting sooner or later as soon as related enhancements are made.
A current suspicious incident
One current UFC battle within the highlight for the fallacious causes was a November 5 bout between Shayilan Nuerdanbieke and Darrick Minner. Quite a few our bodies started investigations into allegations of suspicious betting on the battle.
curiosity resulted in a major shift in odds pre-fight
Varied sportsbooks obtained uncommon betting curiosity for 2 choices: one for Neurdanbieke to knock out his opponent within the first spherical and the opposite for the battle to final lower than 2.5 rounds. This curiosity resulted in a major shift in odds pre-fight. Neurdanbieke gained the bout by knockout after simply 67 seconds within the first spherical.
The Nevada State Athletic Affiliation is contemplating disciplining Minner for not disclosing sure data on his pre-fight medical type. Since then, the New Jersey regulator instructed its sportsbooks they’ll not provide betting on fights during which Minner’s coach James Krause has any kind of involvement.
It was solely final month that the UFC formally introduced fighters and members of their workforce can’t place bets on fights. Explaining the choice, UFC chief enterprise officer Hunter Campbell mentioned it was because of the path from betting regulators. Fighters can nonetheless have gambling-related sponsors.