BetMGM and Fanatics Fined $35,000 for Accepting Bets on Russian UFC Fighter Petr Yan
Kate Marshal
17 March 2026
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Pictured: Petr Yan, UFC fighter
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has fined five sportsbook operators a total of $80,500, with one of the most notable violations involving bets on Russian UFC fighter Petr Yan.
Two operators — BetMGM and Fanatics — were penalized for offering bets on Yan.
Fanatics was fined $20,000 for accepting wagers on a bout involving Petr Yan, while BetMGM received a $15,000 fine for a similar violation.
Combined, the two incidents accounted for $35,000 of the total penalties.
The fines stem from state regulations prohibiting wagers on athletes and teams representing Russia or Belarus. Massachusetts rules bar betting on competitions governed by Russian or Belarusian sports authorities.
In addition to the Petr Yan-related violations, the commission imposed a further $45,500 in fines for other breaches. These included bets on the winner of a major college football award, player prop bets in collegiate games, and wagers on the number of cards shown during the UEFA European Championship. Additional penalties were issued to Fanatics and BetMGM, as well as DraftKings, Caesars and FanDuel.
Gambling Park previously reported that Fanatics Sportsbook was fined $10,000 for a “rookie trader slip-up”.
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