LATEST STORIES:
Ontario bans betting on UFC due to integrity concerns

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario is ordering all registered casino, lottery and igaming operators to stop offering and accepting wagers on Ultimate Fighting Championship events.
The requirement comes after the commission learned of recent alleged incidents involving possible betting by UFC insiders, as well as reports of suspicious betting patterns in other jurisdictions.
U.S. Integrity, a betting integrity firm, opened an investigation after several sportsbooks reported suspicious wagering on a Nov. 5 featherweight session between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke.
READ MORE: Dental care benefit applications open today for children under 12
The AGCO says the demand to stop wagers on UFC events is due to concerns about non-compliance with betting integrity requirements.
Ontario betting standards include rules to safeguard against odds manipulation, match-fixing and other issues.
Sport events must be effectively supervised by a sport governing body that must prescribe final rules and enforce codes of conduct that include prohibitions on betting by insiders.
READ MORE: Here are the key findings from the 2022 Ontario auditor general report
The commission says that as soon as necessary corrective steps have been taken, operators can provide information demonstrating that UFC bets meet established standards.
“This is not a decision we take lightly, knowing the popularity of UFC events in Ontario’s sports books. However, the risks of insider betting on events and wagering integrity should be highly concerning to all,” Tom Mungham, the AGCO’s registrar and CEO, wrote in a statement.
“We will continue to work with gaming operators, the OLG, iGaming Ontario and UFC to ensure that wagering on UFC events meets the AGCO’s Standards.”
READ MORE: Ontario auditor general calls out disorganized COVID-19 vaccine booking system