The UFC is back on the betting menu in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province.
In response to Thursday’s announcement of a deal between the promotion and U.S. Integrity to monitor UFC wagering, and the shoring up of the UFC’s Athlete Code of Conduct as it pertains to insider betting, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has given the green light for UFC betting to return in the province.
Cageside Press was provided with a press release when contacting AGCO officials for comment following Thursday’s announcement by the promotion.
“The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has announced that, effective immediately, regulated sport and event betting operators in Ontario may resume offering bets and betting related products on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events,” the release reads in part.
Betting on UFC fights in the province was banned in early December, in the wake of the widening investigation into November 5’s Shayilan Neurdanbieke vs. Darrick Minner fight.
In the hours ahead of that match-up, there was significant line movement in favor of Neurdanbieke, including considerable money placed on the Chinese fighter to win inside of a round. News of the peculiarity was first reported by TSN’s Aaron Bronsteter, and later flagged by U.S. Integrity.
Both Ontario and another Canadian province, Alberta, instituted bans on UFC betting in response. New Jersey specifically banned bets on fighters linked to James Krause, Minner’s coach, a known gambling enthusiast who last year claimed to have made more money off wagering than coaching. Krause’s alleged role as an agent for an offshore sportsbook, and his time running a betting-themed Discord known as the “1% Club,” have become the focus of multiple investigations into the matter.
Alberta had previously reinstated UFC bets, leaving Ontario as the last major hurdle for the organization to overcome.
In reinstating the promotion in the province, the AGCO noted that it “is satisfied that the betting integrity concerns raised have now been addressed and is therefore permitting registered gaming operators to resume offering UFC-related bets. Operators must continue to meet all applicable Registrar’s Standards and the AGCO will continue to monitor compliance with the Standards. The AGCO is aware of ongoing investigations in other jurisdictions and will be monitoring the outcome and actions related to those investigations.”
