The most popular mixed martial arts promotion in the world is taking steps to curtail illicit legal sports betting.
The UFC has secured a partnership with sports wagering monitoring and regulatory compliance company ProhiBet to prevent the unauthorized use of online betting sites and retail sportsbooks by its athletes amid an influx of betting infractions in sports.
"Our collaboration with ProhiBet is another step towards strengthening our integrity controls by helping us to enforce our anti-gambling policy and support the integrity of our sport,” said UFC general counsel Riché T. McKnight in a statement.
ProhiBet — a joint venture between sports wagering monitoring companies U.S Integrity and Odds on Compliance — provides the UFC with the tools to identify fighters, coaches, and officials that wager on official UFC events. ProhiBet is able to enforce the promotion’s gambling policy through its notification platform. In 2022, the UFC prohibited any type of wagering on UFC events by fighters and members of their teams.
UFC just issued this memo to fighters and managers regarding a change in their athlete conduct policy:
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 17, 2022
UFC fighters are now prohibited from gambling on any UFC fight, regardless of if they are involved or not. They can still be sponsored just not allowed to bet at all. pic.twitter.com/6zhuIITxmx
That same year, the FBI launched a probe into alleged unlawful wagering ahead of a featherweight bout between Darrick Minner and Shayilan Nuerdanbieke. As a result of the investigation, Minner was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. He was also removed from the UFC’s official roster.
Collective effort
The UFC adds to a growing list of organizations in sports using resources to ensure integrity.
In August, the Big 12 Conference secured a partnership with U.S. Integrity to prevent prohibited wagering by athletes, coaches, and school staff. The deal came on the heels of several alleged unlawful betting infractions by football players at Iowa State University — an original member of the Big 12.
The Mountain West has also landed a partnership with U.S. Integrity to utilize its monitoring resources. Its member institutions include the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, San Diego State University, the University of Utah, and others.
