Recent scandals in the UFC have contributed to a decline in betting on the sport, according to a report from InGame.
In January, UFC CEO Dana White canceled a lightweight bout between Alexander Hernandez and Michael Johnson in Las Vegas after betting integrity monitors detected suspicious wagering activity.
“We got called from the gaming integrity service, and I said, ‘I’m not doing this s*** again,’ so we pulled the fight,” White said at the time.
Isaac Dulgarian’s fight against Yadier del Valle last November raised similar red flags, but the bout went on as scheduled despite unusually large wagers on the heavy underdog del Valle. Dulgarian lost by submission in the first round, and the UFC released him amid a federal investigation.
“They’re going to go to f****** federal prison,” White said. “Federal f****** prison. If you’re that f****** stupid, and someone else wants to do it, knock yourself out. There’s not enough money in it to ruin your life and not go to jail, but federal prison.”
Borgata Race & Sportsbook Director Thomas Gable believes the scandals helped impact betting handle on UFC at his Atlantic City shop.
“We’ve seen a recent decrease in the handle and betting action for the UFC,” said Gable. “It’s likely a combination of factors, of which the integrity issues are one.“
He added, “Our regulars and sharp UFC bettors are still very into it, we’re just seeing less recreational bettors.”
While recreational gamblers are more likely to bet modestly on UFC, they add to a casino’s bottom line by playing at tables, spending money on food and beverages, and staying in hotel rooms.
The UFC also started its new seven-year deal with Paramount+ in January after appearing on ESPN platforms since 2019.
“The move to Paramount probably has had an effect because when you were watching ESPN, you used to get hit over the head with the amount of UFC commercials and promotions,” Gable said.
Looking Ahead to UFC Event at White House
With UFC Freedom 250 set for June 14 at the White House, the sport will likely see an uptick in positive publicity and handle.
Dan Miller, a 27-year-old Las Vegas resident and avid UFC fan, fits perfectly into the sport’s target demo.
“The White House card is starting to become a big deal,” Miller said. “If it lives up to expectations, then I can’t wait for what the next 10 years brings. Problem is, they can hype a fight up all they want. It’s up to the fighters to make great fights and great TV.”
For his part, Gable weighs those potential positives against the fallout from recent scandals and those that may surface in the future.
“If you continue to see more stories about irregularities and ones that prove it actually happened, it will continue to depress the UFC handle,” Gable said. “Ultimately, people who bet on any sport want to know what they are betting on is fair.”
