UFC Betting Returns to Ontario Following Ban

Ontario betting sites can now carry UFC markets once again!. Ontario has reinstated betting on UFC events following the UFC's partnership with U.S. Integrity, a company that uses technology to help protect against betting fraud and corruption.

Sportsbooks were initially alerted to potential wagering issues in a Nov. 5 UFC fight between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke by US Integrity. 

Minner was defeated by Nuerdanbieke at 1:07 in the first round. Minner had an injured knee going into the fight at Apex in Las Vegas, but he failed to disclose it on the forms required by the Nevada Athletic Commission. 

Minner went down in pain after throwing a kick at Nuerdanbieke early in the fight. Nuerdanbieke finished the fight quickly. Earlier in the day, US Integrity alerted sports books to an unusually high number of bets on Nuerdanbieke to win the first round. 

Minner was trained by James Krause, a former UFC fighter who admitted to betting on UFC fights. The UFC released Minner, and the Nevada Athletic Commission suspended Krause, Minner, and another Krause-coached fighter, Jeff Molina, pending the outcome of the betting investigation. Because other states recognise Nevada's suspension, it effectively becomes a nationwide ban. 

The UFC had banned any of its fighters from training with Krause or at his gym, Glory MMA & Fitness, in Lee's Summit, Missouri, in November. This forced interim flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who was training with Krause and fights for the undisputed title against Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283 on Saturday, to leave the gym and find a new coach. 

The Nevada Athletic Commission initially suspended Molina on December 13, but did not explain why. A deputy attorney general told the Justice Department's monthly meeting on Tuesday that Molina "was involved in some substantial way in the gaming scheme currently under investigation related to James Krause... " 

Following the Minner fight, the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Alberta completely suspended betting on UFC events, and New Jersey prohibited sports books from accepting wagers on Krause fights. After fighters were barred from training with Krause, Alberta resumed taking bets on UFC matches in December, but Ontario did not until Thursday. 

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario overturned the ban on Thursday, citing five actions taken by the UFC, including its partnership with U.S. Integrity. It stated that the UFC had: 

• Amended its Athlete Conduct Policy to prohibit all insiders from placing wagers on any UFC match, either directly or through a third party, including wagers on themselves. 
• It was made clear that the same wagering prohibitions apply to an athlete's coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, and other individuals associated with the athletes or the UFC, and that violations by these Insiders may result in disciplinary action against related contract athletes. 
• Through the strengthening of their internal processes, they have provided assurances for improved monitoring and action against insider betting. 
• They reiterated their expectation that their contracted athletes report any incidents that might raise questions about their integrity. 
• Engaged in a betting integrity monitoring relationship with US Integrity, an independent sports integrity monitor registered with the AGCO, to identify and analyse unusual wagering activity as a possible indicator of integrity issues.