DRA Suspends Two Darts Pros for Match-Fixing

The Disciplinary Committee of the Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has suspended two players for match-fixing violations. Both of the athletes will also have to pay fines.

The IBIA Reported Suspicious Betting Patterns

The darts players in question are Leighton Bennett and Billy Warriner who have committed serious breaches of the DRA Rules, according to the committee. The violations relate to the following games that took place in September 2023 as part of the Modus Super Series:

• Leighton Bennett v Mindaugas Barauskas – September 6, 2023
• Leighton Bennett v Benjamin Drue-Reus – September 6, 2023
• Leighton Bennett v Ryan Harrington – September 8, 2023
• Leighton Bennett v Mindaugas Barauskas – September 8, 2023

On September 8, 2023, the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) reported suspicious betting patterns on those games.

The DRA joined forces with the UKGC’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit to investigate the matter. As a result, the authority determined that both players had a cause to answer for serious breaches.

The DRA, however, believes there were no other people involved in the match-fixing case.

The Violators Were Suspended

In November 18, 2024, at a hearing before the DRA Disciplinary Committee, the two players were found guilty of violating the DRA Rules.

Bennett was found guilty of 10 charges for fixing the four matches. He was accused of providing inside information and being uncooperative with the investigation. According to the DRA, he had also signed a contract with an unregistered agent.

Because of these violations, he has been suspended for 8 years and ordered to pay a fine of £8,100.23.

Warriner, on the other hand, admitted 19 of 21 charges. He pleaded guilty to having provided inside information and organizing betting on the four matches. The player was likewise uncooperative with the investigation and was accused of acting as an unregistered darts bookmaker. In an unrelated case, he was abusive to a darts official, the DRA added.

Warriner has been suspended for 10 years and ordered to pay £8,100.23.

The two players can appeal the decisions to the Disciplinary Committee by December 14.

In more positive news, Flutter recently hosted a darts challenge with pro Joe Cullen at its annual Charity Ball. The company used the opportunity to provide crucial financial support to charities.