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The Darts Regulation Authority (DRA) has handed British players Jarred Bennett and James Warriner severe penalties for their involvement in match-fixing. Bennett received an eight-year suspension, while Warriner faces a ten-year ban. Both players have also been ordered to pay £8,100 each in legal costs.
The suspensions follow an International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) report released in September 2023, highlighting suspicious betting patterns in the Modus Super Series matches. Bennett’s involvement spanned four matches on September 6 and 8, 2023, against opponents including Mindaugas Barauskas and Ryan Harrington. Warriner, while not playing in these matches, played a significant role in the broader match-fixing activities.
The DRA, working with the Gambling Commission’s Sports Betting Intelligence Unit, conducted a thorough investigation. Both players faced disciplinary hearings on November 18, where the DRA Disciplinary Committee found them guilty of multiple breaches.
Bennett was charged with ten counts of match-fixing, sharing insider information, failing to cooperate with the investigation, and signing a contract with an unregistered agent. Meanwhile, Warriner admitted to 19 charges, including organising betting, providing inside information, and acting as an unregistered agent. He also faced four counts of failing to assist investigators and was found guilty of betting on darts.
In addition to match-fixing, Warriner pleaded guilty to unrelated misconduct at a darts event, where he verbally abused an official and threatened his opponent.
The penalties bar Bennett from participating in any DRA-regulated events until August 2032. Warriner will remain ineligible until June 2034. Both players have until December 14 to appeal the decisions.
Once considered a promising talent, Bennett’s fall from grace is particularly striking. In 2019, at just 13 years old, he became the youngest-ever British Darts Organisation (BDO) youth champion.
The DRA’s ruling reinforces its commitment to maintaining the sport’s integrity, sending a clear message against misconduct.