The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has mandated all Ontario-registered sportsbook operators to halt offering and accepting wagers on World Boxing Association (WBA) events immediately.

This directive arises from emerging concerns regarding the integrity of WBA-sanctioned boxing matches, particularly surrounding match-fixing and insider betting.

Since December 2023, the AGCO has undertaken a comprehensive review prompted by suspicious betting activity surrounding a WBA-sanctioned title fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navarro in Orlando, Florida.

Reports of irregular betting patterns on the bout's duration exceeding 5.5 rounds were flagged by two independent integrity monitors and detected by a registered iGaming operator in Ontario.

Media disclosures alleged a significant wager by Tellez’s manager on the fight lasting beyond 5.5 rounds at a Florida casino. The match concluded with Tellez delivering a knockout to Navarro in the 10th round.

Following an extensive inquiry involving coordination with the WBA, registered gaming operators, independent integrity monitors and regulatory bodies from other jurisdictions – the AGCO has determined that wagers associated with WBA events fail to meet the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming. 

The directive stipulates that Ontario-registered gaming operators must ensure that the sports betting products they offer pertain to events effectively supervised by a recognised sports governing body. This governing body must maintain and enforce codes of conduct prohibiting betting by insiders.

Operators failed to demonstrate to the AGCO that the WBA effectively prohibits insider betting, which may involve athletes’ coaches, managers, handlers or other individuals with access to non-public information. Furthermore, no evidence was presented to indicate the WBA’s efforts to investigate or address allegations of potential match-fixing and insider wagering. 

The AGCO has informed registered operators that the reinstatement of WBA betting products in Ontario requires operators to demonstrate effective event supervision by the WBA to align with regulatory standards.

 In December 2022, similar issues led to the suspension of betting on UFC events, prompting the UFC to amend policies and implement new protocols, subsequently reinstating betting in the province.

Dr Karin Schnarr, AGCO Registrar and CEO, commented: “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. Knowing the popularity of boxing in Ontario, we look forward to reinstating betting on WBA events once appropriate safeguards against possible match-fixing and insider betting have been confirmed.” 

This directive follows Air Dice Group’s acquisition of a B2B licence from the AGCO, positioning the company to expand its presence in North America's online gambling market.