Vegas hating . 209 !!!! Let’s get this money
. Stockton slap
#UFC279 pic.twitter.com/F6IQruT4Tj— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson)
September 8, 2022
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has updated its code of conduct
to prohibit its athletes from betting on fights within the
promotion.
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UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell wrote in a memo
initially obtained by
Yahoo Sports that fighters, members of their teams and “certain
others” are no longer allowed to wager on Octagon 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.
“As you may already be aware, most states in which regulated sports
betting is conducted prohibit athletes from wagering on promotions
or events with which they are affiliated. Many states also extend
this prohibition to the athletes’ training teams, family members
and others that have access to “inside information” relating to the
athletes and their events. In some instances, violations of these
prohibitions could result in criminal charges. The UFC’s contracted
athletes are not exempt from these prohibitions, which state
legislators and regulators have implemented for the purpose of
maintaining the integrity of our sport. 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 fighters are not prohibited from wagering on other promotions,
and they are also allowed to accept sponsorships from sports
betting companies. The updated section in the UFC Code of Conduct
is as follows:
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.
In an interview with Yahoo Sports, Campbell said that many states
with legalized sports betting have adopted policies prohibiting
athletes to gamble on the sports in which they participate. In the
past, several UFC fighters have made public their bets on fights
within the promotion.
“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.”