If you are a fan of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, you were probably celebrating that Amazon Prime and Paramount+ both featured UFC 324 live and streaming from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for free on Saturday, January 24. The main event between Justin Gaethje (left) and Paddy Pimblett was a classic with Gaethje taking the win. The undercard was also outstanding.
But there were three concerning notes:
1) Bet 365 was a major sponsor, with odds posted and promoted at the start of match. This site is licensed and legal in only 16 states. The major casino states of Nevada, California, Oklahoma and Florida are not onboard.
2) An even more troubling aspect is that the announcers frequently mentioned prediction betting opportunities on sites like Polymarket and Crypto.com. Both firms had their logos displayed on the octagon mat and top rails. Most concerning, they consistently said that prediction betting platforms were legal in all 50 states, something their respective websites also proclaim.
The host state of Nevada, where the UFC is headquartered, might have a problem with that. Judges and the state’s Gaming Control Board have said specifically that Polymarket’s operations are unlawful in Nevada and in violation of NRS 463.160, NRS 463.350, NRS 465.086, and NRS 465.092. They have also made similar comments about Kalshi and Crypto.com. The final word may come from the courts, as some of these decisions are being appealed.
3) One other sponsor with a logo on the mat was Stake.us. That is a Sweepstakes betting site. Again, it is not legal in Nevada and many other states. California gave Sweepstakes betting the boot just a month or two ago.
Again, no beef with free enterprise, but you might think that a Nevada-based fight organization might want to take a more favorable stance and realize the importance of protecting both Las Vegas and the state’s primary source of revenue. Just sayin’.
