AGCO Reinstates UFC Betting in Ontario
The AGCO (Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario) have changed their stance and reinstated betting on UFC events now. This has been a quick change of mind as the decision to stop offering wagers on the UFC due to the organization’s non-compliance with regards to the AGCO’s betting integrity requirements.
Since then, the commission (AGCO) has gone ahead and switched their stance on the situation, claiming they have “updated its policies and procedures”. What’s also included in those changes are included details regarding athletes’ conduct policy for the purpose of prohibiting insiders from betting on any match.
The UFC has also done its due diligence, showing initiative in establishing a relationship with the U.S. Integrity, an independently operated sports integrity authority in order to analyze for any unusual, suspicious betting activity. As a consequence to UFC making changes to its policies and procedures, the AGCO is now allowing gaming operators who are legally registered in Ontario to continue offering wagering and betting on UFC events and props.
As of April 4, the Ontario sports-betting and wagering market opened completely.
“The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and the integrity of its betting market,” Tom Mungham, the ACGO’s registrar and CEO, said in a statement. “With the legalization of single event betting last year, the AGCO created strong new rules to protect bettors in Ontario.
“We’re pleased these rules are already working to strengthen the integrity of sports betting in Ontario and, as a result, of UFC competitions around the world”
The above statement was made in an email to the Canadian Press by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp, with the confirmation that customers can expect a return of UFC events on its OLG Proline platforms.
UFC’s executive vice president and general counsel made the following statement:
“UFC will strengthen its current integrity controls by adding expertise in data intelligence and fraud prevention”. The organization is clearly admitting it’s intent to do it’s due diligence as well in order to aid the AGCO and other regulatory bodies worldwide in ensuring a safe and fair environment to participate in wagering on their events.
The reinstatement of betting on UFC events in Ontario comes just in time for the exhibition fighting juggernaut’s first pay-per-view event of the year 2023. The greatly anticipated and star-studded event is set to take place in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro to be specific.
It’s the AGCO’s responsibility for regulating the alcohol, gaming, horse racing, and private cannabis retail sectors in Ontario; although their list of responsibilities seems to be quite extensive and broad, it’s great to see the organization take regulations and safe betting quite seriously and being as proactive as the organization is.