In a move underscored by concerns over the integrity of boxing contests, Ontario has declared an immediate suspension on all betting associated with World Boxing Association (WBA) events. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) exercised this regulatory muscle after determining that current WBA matches fall short of being fully safeguarded against the risks of match-fixing and practices of insider betting.
This decision came on the heels of a thorough examination of abnormal betting patterns witnessed during a high-profile WBA-sanctioned title fight. The bout in question involved combatants Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro, wherein wagering irregularities spanning beyond 5.5 rounds were flagged to the AGCO by two independent integrity monitors and observed within Ontario by a registered igaming operator.
Supplementing these irregularities, media outlets have cast light on allegations that Tellez’s manager placed a hefty $110,000 wager on the contest exceeding 5.5 rounds at a Florida gambling establishment. The fight’s trajectory validated this bet as Tellez ultimately emerged victorious over Navarro with a 10th round knockout.
Commencing their review in December of 2023, the AGCO’s investigation took a multifaceted approach, extending into collaborations with the WBA, gaming operators in Ontario, integrity monitors, and regulatory bodies across various jurisdictions. The Ontario watchdog concluded that the bets tied to WBA boxing events do not measure up to the province’s Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. In response, the suspension of betting on WBA events was put in place.
A point of contention highlighted by the AGCO is the current inability of licensed operators to illustrate that the WBA has a stringent prohibition on insider betting, encompassing athletes’ coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, medical professionals, and any others privy to confidential information. Additionally, operators fell short in demonstrating efforts by the WBA to probe and take disciplinary action against allegations of potential match-fixing and insider wagering.
However, this cessation of betting operations may not be permanent. The AGCO has stated that wagering activities could be reauthorized if operators can manifest proof of the WBA’s effective oversight of its events, thereby aligning WBA events with the integrity standards demanded within Ontario.
“Ontarians who wish to bet on sporting events need to be confident that those events are fairly run, and that clear integrity safeguards are in place and enforced by an effective sport governing body,” articulated AGCO CEO and registrar Karin Schnarr. She further expressed a readiness to reopen the betting avenues on WBA events once thorough safeguards against the possibilities of match-fixing and insider betting have been ratified.
This is not an unprecedented action taken by the AGCO, as previous instances have seen the temporary prohibition of bets on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events over similar insider betting concerns. Although initial amendments by the UFC targeted a ban on fighters betting on UFC events, further stipulations were needed to encompass other insiders such as coaches, managers, and trainers. Subsequent compliance and the introduction of rigorous new protocols by the UFC facilitated the swift lifting of the ban, reinstating UFC betting in Ontario the following month.
Moreover, sentiments towards gambling advertisements in Ontario have also come under scrutiny. A recent study orchestrated by Maru Public Opinion discovered that 59% of the populace endorses a complete embargo on gambling advertising, with many postulating that operators are defaulting on their responsibilities and advocating for intensified government oversight. The survey’s timing was in close proximity to the AGCO’s unveiling of reinforced advertising regulations that preclude sportsbooks from deploying celebrities as brand ambassadors and bar billboard advertising near schools or locations frequented by youth or susceptible demographics.
