The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has fined FanDuel Canada CAD 350,000 (about $252,000 USD) for failing to detect and report suspicious betting activity tied to match-fixing concerns. This six-figure penalty highlights Ontario’s strict rules on betting integrity in iGaming. Operators must stay proactive in spotting unusual patterns to protect public trust, according to AGCO officials.
FanDuel Accepted Bets on Suspicious Czech Table Tennis Matches
AGCO’s investigation revealed FanDuel accepted 144 bets from three Ontario player accounts on Czech Table Tennis Star Series events between October 23 and November 30. These matches showed clear red flags for potential match-fixing, yet FanDuel continued taking wagers for weeks.
Key indicators of suspicious betting activity included:
• Sudden shifts in betting lines for matches involving a specific athlete duo.
• Rapid surge in wagers on athletes likely to lose.
• Near-perfect win rates for certain players.
• Synchronized betting across multiple accounts
This wasn’t the first time integrity issues surfaced in this tournament series, making FanDuel’s oversight a clear violation of Ontario betting regulations.
AGCO Stresses Operator Duties in Protecting Sports Integrity
Under Ontario rules, iGaming operators like FanDuel must identify, report, and halt suspicious activity promptly. Failure to do so erodes public trust in regulated online betting.
FanDuel can appeal the AGCO fine to the License Appeal Tribunal within two weeks. AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr underscored the stakes:
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.
—Dr. Karin Schnarr, CEO and Registrar, AGCO
AGCO’s Recent Enforcement Actions on Betting Operators
This FanDuel AGCO fine follows a pattern of crackdowns. Last year, AGCO penalized theScore CAD 105,000 for letting a high-risk player gamble CAD 2.5 million, resulting in CAD 230,000 in losses.
These cases reinforce Ontario’s commitment to betting integrity amid rising match-fixing risks in niche sports like table tennis.
