The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has issued a CA$350,000 monetary penalty to FanDuel for failing to adequately detect and report suspicious wagering activity. The fine relates to concerns over potential match-fixing in the Czech Table Tennis Star Series.
According to the regulator, the Flutter Entertainment-owned operator accepted 144 bets from three separate player accounts between October 23 and November 30 of last year. These bets displayed “multiple indicators” of match-fixing, yet FanDuel did not intervene or report the activity in a timely manner.
Red Flags Ignored
The AGCO’s investigation detailed clear warning signs that should have prompted action. These included “abrupt shifts in wagering behaviour” and a consistent pattern of bets placed on athletes losing their matches. Furthermore, there were “clear links and synchronised wagering across the accounts involved,” suggesting an organised effort rather than isolated incidents.
In its statement, the AGCO emphasised that operators bear a heavy responsibility to monitor the fairness of the markets they offer. “Igaming operators act as a critical first line of defence in protecting the integrity of Ontario’s sports betting market and in supporting the fight against betting-related match fixing,” the regulator stated.
Global Consequences
The commission also highlighted that integrity failures in Ontario have ramifications beyond provincial borders. The AGCO warned that when operators in one jurisdiction fail to flag suspicious patterns, it “undermines the ability of regulators, police services and sports authorities around the world to identify and disrupt organised efforts to fix games or bets.”
FanDuel is required to address these compliance gaps immediately to prevent further regulatory action.
