After suspending betting on UFC events in Alberta sportsbooks, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) announced last week that they were allowing wagers to be placed on the popular mixed martial arts league.
While Alberta has lifted the ban, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) is holding off on lifting the ban on UFC betting, confirming their stance in a statement.
“The AGCO is aware of UFC’s statement last week and is encouraged by their commitment to integrity. Protecting the betting public by providing the necessary safeguards against the risk of insider betting on events and wagering integrity is a high priority to the AGCO,” said the AGCO in a statement, shortly after AGLC announced their intentions. “We recognize the recent steps taken and are committed to engaging with Ontario’s gaming industry, UFC, the OLG, and iGaming Ontario to ensure that the UFC has the necessary betting-integrity framework in place, in particular relating to wagering by UFC insiders.”
The AGLC had said on December 1 that they were not allowing betting on the UFC because of what they called a betting integrity issue. The main issue came after there were suspicions over a November 5 bout.
Eyebrows were raised during a fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Neurdanbieke in UFC Vegas 64. Before the fight, money came flying in on Neurdanbieke on both the money line and the prop bet on winning in less than 2.5 rounds.
It was later discovered that news that Minner had an injured knee leaked from his camp, possibly causing the bets to come in on his opponent. He was stopped in the first round by Neurdanbieke.
Further complicating things was that Minner was coached by James Krause. The former UFC fighter admitted to betting on UFC matches and provided picks through a service that he owned.
The issue was taken so seriously by the UFC that they hired US Integrity to investigate.
The Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Minner and Krause pending a disciplinary hearing. They were disciplined for failing to report the injury, as well as the betting issue.
That was enough to satisfy the AGLC, who said in a statement they supported the action.
“With the recent announcement by the UFC that Krause, his managers and fighters will not be permitted to participate in UFC events, pending Nevada State Athletic Commission’s investigation, Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) has reinstated UFC betting markets on PlayAlberta.ca,” the statement read. “Protecting consumers in Alberta is of the utmost importance to AGLC. We will remain vigilant in monitoring the situation and ensure players continue to have safe and secure gaming opportunities on Play Alberta.”
The UFC said in a statement that they are fully cooperating in the investigation.
“Along with the safety and health of its fighters, UFC believes there is no more important component of professional mixed martial arts than the integrity of the sport. Weeks prior to the Minner fight, the organization sent formal notification to all fighters and members of their teams that they and certain other defined ‘insiders’ were prohibited from wagering on UFC events,” the statement read. “UFC will continue to take all necessary and appropriate steps to ensure compliance with and enforcement of its policies and those of the jurisdictions in which it operates.”
