AGCO requests Ontario gaming operators to stop offering and accepting UFC bets due to bet integrity concerns.Canadian Business Journal

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced that all registered casinos offering sports and event betting products, Mandatory for lottery and game operators. Ontario has stopped offering and accepting bets on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events due to concerns regarding violations of AGCO’s betting integrity requirements.

Registrar standards include rules to protect against odds manipulation, match fixing, and other sports betting integrity issues. In particular, operators should ensure that:

If a sporting event is wagered on, the event must be effectively supervised by a sports governing body that must, at a minimum, set final rules and enforce a code of conduct, including prohibition of insider betting.When

Sufficient integrity safeguards are in place to mitigate the risk of match-fixing, cheat-at-play and other illegal activities that may affect event betting outcomes.

Contrary to registrar standards, UFC does not prohibit all insiders from betting on UFC events. This may include the athlete’s coach, manager, handler, athletic trainer, medical professional, or other person with access to non-public information.

In recent weeks, AGCO has learned of publicly disclosed suspected incidents, including possible betting by UFC insiders and reports of questionable betting patterns in other jurisdictions.

AGCO is therefore now taking this step in the public interest. AGCO indicates to the Operator that, once necessary corrective action has been taken, AGCO may provide information demonstrating that UFC betting or betting products meet the Registrar’s standards.

Quote

“The standard exists to protect public betting and to provide necessary safeguards against odds manipulation, match-fixing, and other integrity issues. Knowing its popularity, it is not a decision to be taken lightly, but the risk of insider betting on the event and betting on integrity should be of great concern to all. We will continue to work with gaming operators, OLG, iGaming Ontario and UFC to ensure that betting at UFC events meets AGCO’s standards.”

AGCO Registrar and CEO Tom Mungham said:

Other resources

Registrar Standards for Internet Games (Criterion 3.01.1 and Criterion 4.34 Requirements 5 and 6)
Registrar Gaming Standards (Criterion 3.2.1 Requirements 1 and 2 and Criterion 4.21 Requirements 5 and 6)
Registrar Standards for Gaming: Lottery Division (Standard 3.2.1 and Standard 4.3.1 Requirements 5 and 6)

media contact

AGCO Communications
[email protected]
416-326-3202

About AGCO

AGCO is responsible for regulating Ontario’s alcohol, gaming, horse racing and private cannabis retail sectors in the public interest according to the principles of honesty and integrity.

AGCO is a regulatory body with a steering committee reporting to the Attorney General’s Office. Established on February 23, 1998. 2019 Ontario Law Alcohol and Gaming Commission

CBJ Newsmaker