The UFC has strengthened its anti-gambling policy by signing a compliance and integrity hybrid deal with ProhiBet to monitor/mark bets by UFC athletes and coaches. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
The Big Brother platform raises the ante
The UFC changed its policies last year to prevent its fighters, coaches or other employees from betting on any matches. Now, it’s possible that any UFC member considering placing a bluff bet on their sport anyway might think again.
The mixed martial arts brand just announced a partnership with ProhiBet, a betting monitoring platform owned by US Integrity (USI) and Odds On Compliance.
ProhiBet will monitor all relevant employees connected to the UFC
According to a UFC press release, the new partnership means that ProhiBet will monitor all UFC-related employees and report any betting activity that violates the rules. It described Prohibet as a “safe and transparent” tool to ensure sports staff remain in compliance with betting regulations.
According to UFC Executive Vice President and General Counsel Richie T. McKnight, the move is intended to strengthen the brand’s integrity controls, and help it “enforce” its anti-gambling policy.
Fighting talk
As reported MMA addict On Wednesday, USI has now sent UFC athletes and teams an 11-minute compliance training video regarding updated gambling regulations and the ProhiBet platform. The USI warned that ProhiBet is a “robust and comprehensive” platform with “broad access to relevant data sets”.
With all this technology in hand, the video notes that the platform will detect “nefarious or malicious” sports betting activities and “shine them to the appropriate parties”.
No amount of money is worth that.”
The USI went further, stating: “No amount of money is worth any sports betting infractions. Reputational damage alone will cost you a career and may result in criminal action.”
Serious issue
In its video, USI brought to light an illegal betting ring organized by prominent MMA trainer James Krause. Sources close to the matter indicate that Krause was operating an offshore betting operation based in Costa Rica. The coach will set up the accounts and take payments from the bettors. He was suspended by the UFC at the end of 2022.
In January, UFC Flyweight Jeff Molina was also suspended due to his connections with Krause. The self-proclaimed “promiscuous MMA gambler” trained with Krause.
