AGCO Slaps FanDuel Canada with $350K Penalty for Suspicious Table Tennis Wagers

Ontario’s gaming regulator has levied a C$350,000 fine against FanDuel Canada for failing to detect and report suspicious wagering activity during the 2024 Czech Table Tennis Series, an event flagged for potential match-fixing issues.

The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) revealed today that, between October 23 and November 30, 2024, the operator accepted 144 bets from three accounts on matches displaying multiple integrity red flags. The regulator emphasized FanDuel’s obligation to monitor high-risk events, noting the series had preexisting concerns about fairness quality.

AGCO Cites Compliance Failure

AGCO has sanctioned FanDuel Canada for violating anti-match-fixing regulations, specifically breaching Standard 4.32 of the Registrar’s Standards for Internet Gaming.

AGCO stated the operator failed to implement controls to “identify unusual or suspicious betting activity” and alert Independent Integrity Monitors (IIM) during the 2024 Czech Table Tennis Star Series.

Unreported suspicious wagers continued for weeks, bypassing mandatory IIM reporting designed to alert other operators and sports bodies about potential integrity breaches. Key red flags included abrupt shifts in betting patterns, disproportionate bets on two athletes’ losses, an improbable 97% win rate, and coordinated betting across three accounts.

Clash Over Compliance

AGCO has doubled down on its C$350,000 penalty against FanDuel Canada, citing additional violations of Standard 1.13, which “require operators to engage with the Registrar in a transparent way” regarding integrity concerns. The regulator revealed industry stakeholders had previously flagged betting integrity risks tied to the 2024 table tennis games, warnings the operator allegedly ignored.

AGCO CEO Dr. Karin Schnarr emphasized heightened accountability measures, stating, “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.”

FanDuel Challenges Penalty

FanDuel Canada has publicly contested AGCO’s fine, asserting the penalty misrepresents its commitment and investment in safeguarding sports integrity. In a statement addressing the AGCO’s ruling, the operator defended its protocols, claiming its monitoring system was the only one to proactively flag and report the suspicious table tennis bets to integrity monitors and regulators.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to working with [the AGCO] to identify areas of integrity concerns,” FanDuel stated, while expressing concern that the fine might deter operators from rigorously investigating irregular activity.