Australia's premier gambling lobby has raised concerns about illegal, offshore wagering companies being promoted during Perth's UFC card on Saturday due to sponsorships and promotions being run with fighters.
One such company is Leon, which has been banned in Australia by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the sector's watchdog.
Several fighters are associated with Leon, including through social media posts promoting the company and links offering free bets, although not all are listed on the Perth card.
The UFC and Leon were contacted for comment about protocols or edicts given to fighters to ensure they were compliant with local regulations.
AAP has chosen not to name the athletes to avoid promoting the illegal inducements.
The bookmaker is registered in Anjouan, a small island off the coast of Africa, and its website is owned and operated by a company registered in Belize.
Leon says it has "passed all applicable regulatory compliance and is legally authorised to offer gaming operations" on its home page, but does not specify in what country.
Its home page is also littered with odds on Australian sporting markets despite it being banned in the country.
Flouting the rules by providing or advertising illegal gambling services can carry a fine of almost $2.5 million a day for an individual and almost $12.4 million for companies.
Responsible Wagering Australia CEO Kai Cantwell said the authority did not have the power it needed to tackle offshore gambling, which the industry considers a major threat.
Illegal offshore markets are estimated to be worth about $1.6 billion annually, or some 15 per cent of the total market.
"Australian athletes fronting offshore gambling brands is extremely disappointing, yet it highlights how these companies deliberately target high-profile athletes and influencers to appear credible to the public," Mr Cantwell said.
"If athletes can struggle to tell the difference between licensed and unlicensed operators, it's no wonder ordinary Australians find it confusing."
He accused overseas wagering companies of breaking the rules by refusing to pay out winnings, failing to verify ages or self-exclusion registers, and not paying tax in Australia.
They're also not captured by Australian consumer protections, he said.
"The more restrictions governments place on licensed operators, the more attractive these illegal sites become," Mr Cantwell said.
Responsible Wagering has also chastised the communications watchdog for failing to take appropriate action after promising to crack down on influencers and social media stars promoting banned bookies.
ACMA said it couldn't comment on content that might or might not happen at the UFC, as each matter would depend on the circumstances.
It noted that there were exemptions to gambling regulations for incidental or accidental accompaniment.
"The ACMA is aware of the Leon service which has been investigated and found to contravene the IGA in 2025," it said.
"Action has been taken to block the service and we continue to monitor and take action to block further mirror sites."
Australians using offshore wagering companies is at the heart of the argument the lobby is making against blanket betting advertising bans as the federal government considers its response to a landmark gambling harm report.
Australian bookmakers say this would push punters to unregulated offshore sites, inadvertently causing them more harm.
This has been disputed by harm reduction advocates, who say there is limited evidence to support this.
The "you win some, you lose more" report into gambling harm conducted by a parliamentary committee recommended the Australian government develop and implement technology to more effectively block offshore gambling sites.
It further recommended blocking transactions to illegal gambling operators, including by working with banks and payment system providers.
The Albanese government has yet to respond to the report's recommendations more than two years after it was released.
National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858
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