Alberta: AGLC reinstates UFC betting

December 9, 2022 1:24 PM
Photo: Shutterstock
  • Mark Keast, CDC Gaming Reports
December 9, 2022 1:24 PM
  • Mark Keast, CDC Gaming Reports

Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis (AGLC) today announced they were reversing their decision to ban betting on the UFC in Alberta, satisfied the American mixed-martial-arts promotion company was properly dealing with the issue of betting integrity within its ranks.

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The issue surrounded insider betting by UFC personnel and concerns about suspicious betting around a Nov. 5 fight. AGLC announced Dec. 1 they had stopped offering and accepting wagers on UFC events.

The UFC said Dec. 2 they were cooperating with multiple ongoing government investigations involving a fight Nov. 5 involving Darrick Minner and his coach James Krause. The UFC has released Minner from his contract and suspended Krause and made it clear that any UFC fighter who continues to work with Krause will not be permitted to participate in UFC events.

This morning AGLC reversed course.

“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,” AGLC said in a statement. “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.”

As Canadian Gaming Association President and CEO Paul Burns told CDC Gaming Reports, this was never an issue with the operators. It was on UFC to toughen its own policies, so there would be no doubts.

“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 UFC said in their Dec. 2 statement.

“This was an extension of UFC’s pre-existing (and since updated) fighter Code of Conduct as well as a recognition of various state, federal, and international laws and regulations expressly prohibiting conduct that threatens the integrity of the sport including, but not limited to, insider betting based on non-public information, fight-fixing, and other such misconduct.

“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.”

UFC 282 is being held Saturday in Las Vegas, led by a title fight with light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz squaring off against contender Magomed Ankalaev.