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Read Full BioThe Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined betting platform FanDuel CA$350,000 ($250,000) for failing to prevent match-fixing in table tennis.
Following an investigation, AGCO found that between October 23rd and November 30th, 2024, FanDuel accepted 144 bets from three Ontario player accounts on Czech Table Tennis Star Series matches that should have raised suspicions of fixing.
In a press release, the AGCO said there were multiple red flags that FanDuel should have noticed, including:
- Abrupt shifts in betting behavior and lines for matches involving two specific athletes
- Concentration of large bets on those athletes to lose
- An implausibly high win rate on those bets
- Linked and synchronized wagering patterns across the three accounts
The regulator did not specify which players are alleged to have fixed matches or whether the bettors have faced any criminal prosecution in this case.
FanDuel Objects to Fine
FanDuel expressed its disappointment with the action and stated that it has a robust system in place to monitor suspicious betting activity, aimed at preventing match-fixing.
A company spokesperson commented, “As an operator that prides itself on the trust we have built with our stakeholders, we do not feel that this action accurately reflects the commitment and investment we have consistently demonstrated regarding protecting the industry, our customers, and the integrity of sport.”
“We also are concerned it could discourage the industry from engaging in best efforts to identify, investigate, and report on irregular activity.”
FanDuel is a member of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and stated that it reported suspicions to the agency and subsequently to AGCO. AGCO, however, says the operator took too long to raise an alert, which allowed betting on the affected events to continue uninterrupted for several weeks.
Betting Companies Frequently Flag Fixing
Betting companies are often the first to flag suspicious betting activity, leading to investigations into match-fixing. It was sportsbooks, such as FanDuel, that flagged up unusual betting on Terry Rozier’s prop bets. This sparked an investigation that eventually led to the Miami Heat player’s arrest last year, along with over 30 others.
Malik Beasley’s NBA career has also been derailed after a betting company reported suspicious wagering on his prop markets. Even as the bets lost, Beasley was put under investigation and had a rumored $42 million contract with the Detroit Pistons canceled. The player has since signed with a Serbian basketball team for considerably less money.
High-profile cases of match-fixing are rare compared to the phenomenon in low-level sporting events, such as the Czech table tennis tournament. An international investigation led to the arrests of several lower-ranked tennis players last month.
In that case, France’s gambling regulator said “fixers are increasingly targeting lower-level competitions” and “no sport is immune.”
Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar at AGCO, emphasized that betting companies play a key role in preventing match-fixing.
She commented, “In an era of heightened scrutiny on sports integrity, igaming operators must be vigilant and proactive in detecting suspicious betting activity and taking appropriate steps to protect their patrons. We will continue to hold all regulated operators accountable to these standards. Protecting fair play is essential to maintaining public trust.”
