- The UFC is expected to come up with a new policy prohibiting fighters and teams from betting on their fights
- UFC fighters can still enter a business agreement with betting companies
Betting has been playing a huge role in the sport of MMA. Though seldom publicized, some UFC fighters and their affiliates surely gamble on their fights. However, that is likely to come to an end as the UFC will prohibit them from doing so and the official rule is underway.
A UFC fighter is not a gambler
According to a leaked e-mail obtained by MMA Junkie, citing an anonymous source, a letter composed by UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell, the promotion’s athlete code of conduct is set to include a prohibition of wagering on UFC fights based upon the directives of “regulators responsible for the regulated sports betting industry in the United States.” The “wagering prohibition” will be applicable to UFC fighters, members of their teams and “certain others.”
Simply put, UFC fighters and any teams affiliated with them and the UFC will no longer be allowed to bet on their bouts.
“In light of clear direction that we have received from regulators responsible for the regulated sports betting industry in the United States, we are compelled at this time to recognize in the UFC Athlete Conduct Policy certain restrictions relating to wagering by our athletes, members of their teams and certain others,” Campbell wrote in the e-mail… “In order to assist our athletes in understanding their obligations under the laws of the majority of states in which sports betting is permitted, and in further support of these integrity measures, UFC has incorporated a wagering prohibition into the UFC Athlete Conduct Policy expressly prohibiting athletes from wagering on any UFC match.”
UFC welterweight contender Colby Covington, among others, is in partnership with a betting company, My Bookie. As per the letter, guys like Covington can still continue doing business with such entities as the policy “does not prohibit UFC athletes from entering into sponsorship agreements with betting companies.”
The e-mail also includes a link to the full policy update and a new amendment on wagering. In it, a line states that “wagering by an athlete (directly or through a third party) on any MMA match” will be “illegal and may result in criminal sanction.”
“Athletes are prohibited from placing any wagers (directly or through a third party) on any UFC match, including placing any wagers on themselves. In most states with legalized sports betting, wagering by an athlete (directly or through a third party) on any MMA match put on by a promoter with which they are affiliated is illegal and may result in criminal sanction. Athletes should also be aware that in most states these same prohibitions apply to some or all of (i) relatives living in the same household as an athlete, (ii) an athlete’s coaches, managers, handlers, athletic trainers, medical professionals and staff, and (iii) any other person with access to non-public information regarding participants in any MMA match. An athlete that becomes aware or has knowledge of any wagering in violation of these restrictions must immediately notify UFC of such incident in accordance with this UFC Athlete Conduct Policy.”
Considered “inside betting”
Prior to the leaked policy, Campbell already lifted the lid on the matter and implied that the UFC will comply with “majority of regulatory bodies” prohibiting what is considered as “inside betting.”
“As gaming has grown nationwide, we’ve been in contact with the overwhelming majority of regulatory bodies,” Campbell told Yahoo Sports. “It has been made clear to us that a large percentage of regulatory bodies prohibit what they would consider inside betting with people who are active participants in the sports that they bet.”
More updates on the policy are expected to go public sooner rather than later.
