The UFC has ushered in a new policy that bans its fighters from betting on UFC fights.
In a letter sent out by UFC Chief Business Officer, Hunter Campbell, fighters and their teams were told that the updated athlete code of conduct policy will now prohibit them and their close associates from wagering on UFC events.
UFC noted that it had to change its policy to fall in line with “regulators responsible for the regulated sports betting industry in the United States” as sports wagering continues to expand across the country.
Most regulated sports betting states have prohibited athletes from wagering on sports to which they are affiliated. Some states even expand this ban to the athlete’s teams, family members, and others who have access to insider information.
The UFC said in a statement: “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 added in its statement that fighters are still able to seek out brand ambassador agreements with sports betting companies and are still allowed to wager on any other sports or other MMA promotions.
