The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has reinstated UFC betting in the province after nearly two months of inactivity.

All registered sports betting operators were prohibited from offering UFC event wagering after reports of suspicious betting patterns in other jurisdictions, as well as alleged betting by UFC insiders.

The ban began on Dec 1, 2022, with the AGCO vowing to work with the UFC and other important stakeholders to ensure wagering on these events could meet its Registrar Standards.

The sanctions were finally lifted yesterday after the UFC announced an updated policy and procedures handbook. One of the key changes made is an amendment to its Athlete Conduct Policy which prohibits all insiders from placing any wagers directly or through a third party on any UFC match, including placing wagers on themselves.

Tom Mungham, Registrar and CEO, AGCO, said: “The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and the integrity of its betting market. With the legalization of single event betting last year, the AGCO created strong new rules to protect bettors in Ontario.

“We are 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 AGCO’s Registrar’s Standards include rules to safeguard against odds manipulation, match-fixing and other sports betting integrity issues. 

Sport and event betting operators must specifically ensure that sporting events they offer bets on are effectively supervised by a governing body which must, at minimum, prescribe rules and enforce codes of conduct that include prohibitions on betting by insiders.

Additionally, there must be integrity safeguards in place, sufficient enough to mitigate the risk of match-fixing and other illicit activities that might influence the outcome of bet upon events.