The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has prohibited all sportsbooks in Ontario from accepting bets and offering odds on all World Boxing Association (WBA) sanctioned matches, effective immediately.
Integrity Concerns
The ban was put in place after the AGCO ruled that WBA matches were not adequately safeguarded from match-fixing. This followed an extensive investigation into irregular betting patterns during the fight between Yoenis Tellez and Livan Navaro on December 23rd.
The fight took place at the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida, on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs Andre August card and ended with Tellez knocking his opponent out in the 10th and final round.
Questions were raised when big bets were placed on the fight going over 5.5 rounds. Firstly, Eduardo Perez, Tellez’s manager, made a $110,000 bet on his fighter, which Tellez claimed he knew nothing of.
Additionally, a $19,000 wager on the fight lasting more than 5.5 rounds was allegedly placed, while someone in Tellez’s group is also said to have placed a $30,000 wager on the same outcome.
Not up to Standards
Following these betting irregularities, the AGCO launched an investigation and it has concluded that, currently, the WBA does not meet the authority’s standards for regulated internet betting. As such, sportsbooks in the province will not be able to accept wagers on WBA events.
However, if the WBA is able to amend its regulations and can demonstrate it is effectively supervising its events, then this ban may be lifted. AGCO CEO and registrar Karin Schnarr said that Ontarians need to be confident that they are betting on fair sports events. They also noted that boxing is extremely popular in the province and they hope to reinstate it when it is up to standard.
The WBA is not the only combat sports organisation that has suffered this fate in Ontario. The AGCO also banned wagering on UFC events in December 2022 over similar concerns. The UFC was quick to amend its protocols and was reinstated within just a few weeks.
