The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has taken firm steps to maintain the honesty of sports wagering within the province. Due to serious worries about manipulated contests and possible insider gambling connected to World Boxing Association (WBA) matches, the AGCO has instructed all licensed sportsbooks in Ontario to immediately stop providing bets on WBA bouts.
This move comes after a detailed inquiry initiated in December 2023 into questionable wagering trends surrounding a WBA championship fight in Orlando, Florida, between Yunieski Gonzalez and Erislandy Lara. Warning signs were detected by several sports integrity observers who noticed atypical betting conduct, especially on the fight surpassing 5.5 rounds. This unusual action was focused on a single registered internet betting site in Ontario. Further intensifying the situation, news reports emerged alleging that persons associated with Lara placed large wagers at a Florida gaming establishment, betting that the fight would last beyond the 5.5 round threshold. Lara proceeded to win the fight in the 10th round by knockout.
The AGCO, upon completing an extensive investigation in cooperation with the WBA, registered wagering providers, independent sports integrity monitors, and regulatory agencies in other jurisdictions, concluded that the wagering activity related to WBA events did not satisfy the rigorous standards of equity and openness necessary for lawful online gambling in Ontario.
This instruction directs Ontario-based gaming entities to guarantee their sports wagering options correspond with competitions effectively overseen by acknowledged sports regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities must maintain and implement codes of ethics that forbid insider wagering.
The Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) determined that operators couldn’t verify if the World Boxing Association (WBA) efficiently prohibited wagering by insiders, which could encompass athlete trainers, handlers, representatives, or others possessing access to private data. Moreover, no proof indicated that the WBA had taken steps to examine or handle potential match manipulation and insider wagering accusations.
To restore WBA wagering products in Ontario, the AGCO has notified registered operators that they must demonstrate that the WBA effectively governs events to satisfy regulatory benchmarks.
This circumstance mirrors a comparable issue in December 2022 that resulted in the suspension of wagering on Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events. The UFC subsequently amended its regulations, executed new procedures, and wagering within the province resumed.
“Individuals in Ontario who opt to gamble on athletic events require assurance that those events are being conducted honestly and with ethical practices,” remarked Dr. Karin Schnarr, Registrar and CEO of the AGCO. “Competent sports regulatory bodies have unambiguous integrity protections established and enforce those protections.”
The sport of boxing enjoys immense popularity in Ontario, a fact that makes the return of wagering on WBA bouts a cause for widespread excitement. We are committed to ensuring the absolute integrity and transparency of all operations, with no tolerance for any form of match manipulation or unethical betting practices.
This development follows the recent approval granted to Air Dice by the AGCO, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing legal gambling activities within Ontario. This milestone holds significant importance for Air Dice, as it unlocks opportunities for substantial expansion of their online gaming enterprise within the North American market. Building upon their existing success, this development promises even greater achievements for the company.