AGCO Imposes $350,000 Penalty to FanDuel Canada
Ontario’s gaming regulator has taken enforcement action against FanDuel Canada after determining that the operator failed to properly identify and report suspicious betting activity linked to potential match-fixing concerns.
The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) announced it had imposed a CAD 350,000 monetary penalty on FanDuel Canada ULC. The sanction follows an in-depth regulatory review into the operator’s handling of unusual wagering activity connected to Czech Table Tennis Star Series matches during late 2024.
According to the AGCO, the review covered betting activity between October 23 and November 30, 2024. During that period, FanDuel accepted 144 bets from three Ontario-based player accounts on matches that regulators say showed multiple indicators commonly associated with match-fixing. Despite those warning signs, the AGCO concluded that FanDuel did not take appropriate action to investigate, escalate, or report the activity as required under Ontario’s internet gaming standards.
Regulatory Findings Highlight Missed Warning Signs
The AGCO said its investigation identified several red flags that should have triggered immediate intervention. These included abrupt changes in betting patterns, unusual movements in betting lines, and a concentration of wagers placed on athletes expected to lose their matches. Regulators also pointed to an implausibly high success rate across the accounts involved, along with synchronized betting behaviour that suggested coordination.
The regulator noted that the betting activity occurred after previous industry alerts had already flagged integrity risks associated with the same tournament series. Despite this context, betting on the affected events was allowed to continue for several weeks without interruption.
Under Ontario’s regulatory framework, licensed igaming operators are required to act as the first line of defence in protecting sports betting integrity. This includes having controls in place to detect unusual or suspicious betting activity and reporting such activity to Independent Integrity Monitors (IIMs) when identified.
Importance of Reporting and Market Integrity
The AGCO stressed that failures to report suspicious betting activity do not only affect the local market. In a globally connected sports betting environment, missed reporting in one jurisdiction can undermine broader efforts by regulators, law enforcement agencies, and sports governing bodies to detect and disrupt organised match-fixing schemes.
When suspicious activity is reported, Independent Integrity Monitors share intelligence across regulated operators and with relevant sports authorities. This coordinated approach is designed to identify linked betting activity across platforms and allow sports bodies to investigate potential integrity breaches involving athletes or events.
The regulator said that maintaining confidence in fair outcomes is essential for Ontario’s regulated betting market and requires operators to respond quickly when integrity risks emerge.
Next Steps and Ongoing Oversight
FanDuel has the right to appeal the monetary penalty within 15 days to the Licence Appeal Tribunal, an independent adjudicative body within Tribunals Ontario.
The AGCO said it will continue monitoring licensed operators to ensure compliance with integrity and reporting obligations. The regulator reiterated that protecting fair play and public confidence remains a core priority as Ontario’s regulated igaming market continues to mature.
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