Latest news with #GamblingCommission
Spectator
28-05-2025
- Business
- Spectator
Racing is being regulated out of existence
As a parable that sums up the dysfunction of the modern state and the over-regulation of industry, this has it all: government by unaccountable quango, ministers whose actions are the opposite of their words, puritanical campaigners given the power to dictate how people spend their money, a refusal to recognise glaring trade-offs and the cost of regulation, and the complacency with which a great British success story might be killed off. The success story in question is horse racing. With five million fans a year visiting 59 courses, racing is Britain's second most popular spectator sport after football. And we are good at it. We have the best horses, the best trainers, and four of the top ten races in the world. The industry contributes £4.1 billion to the economy and £300 million a year to the Treasury, and it keeps 100,000 people in work, including in our betting industry, supporting rural and semi-rural communities – such as West Suffolk, which I represent in parliament. Problem gambling among people betting on horse racing is about as common as it is among those buying National Lottery scratch cards. Yet thanks to the Gambling Commission's blinkered campaign against gambling addiction – which is almost entirely down to gaming and gambling online – the government is risking the destruction of the entire racing industry. Although the trade in bloodstock is worth millions of pounds, profit margins are tight for breeders and trainers. They do not necessarily see a return on what they invest. We are breeding fewer thoroughbred horses, and the British racing industry is in danger of falling behind global competitors.
Sky News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Officials at Premier League clubs at risk of legal action over unlicensed casino sponsors
Casinos sponsoring two Premier League clubs are accepting UK customers without a licence, putting club officers at risk of prosecution, Sky News has learned. The gambling websites, and DEBET, are the matchday shirt sponsors of Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively. But an investigation by anti-gambling advert campaigners, shared with Sky News, suggests the casinos have continued to accept UK customers - despite this becoming unlawful after they lost their licences to operate in the UK. DEBET lost its licence on 15 May, while lost its licence in December 2024. Neither club has indicated that they intend to end the sponsorships, despite criticism from campaigners and warnings from the Gambling Commission. With the end of the 2024/25 season this weekend, both clubs are now half-way through two-year sponsorship deals with the casinos - putting them in a difficult position for next season. The campaign group Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) told Sky News it was able to make deposits on both gambling websites, despite the sites having no licence to accept UK customers. CEGA also successfully deposited cash on Burnley FC sponsor Burnley are due to be promoted to the Premier League next season. The findings come one week after the Gambling Commission warned five football clubs, including Wolverhampton and Burnley, that their officers "may be liable to prosecution and, if convicted, face a fine, imprisonment or both if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain". The Commission had issued a similar warning to Leicester City in February. It made clear then that the clubs must either cut ties with the casinos or ensure they are not accessible to UK customers "by any means" - including virtual private networks (VPNs) - software used to hide a user's real location. Other than the need to use a VPN, CEGA director Will Prochaska says it "really wasn't very difficult" to access the sites. The Gambling Commission declined to be interviewed by Sky News, but said that "where we have evidence that meets the standard for criminal prosecution we will take appropriate action". Head of enforcement at the Commission John Pierce previously said the body would "conduct ongoing spot checks as necessary to ensure they are not accessible to consumers in Great Britain by any means". Mr Prochaska, however, said the Commission was taking "far too long" to take action. "Far too many children, far too many football fans, are seeing these adverts every day," he said. "It's got to stop." Leicester City's sponsor has had no UK licence for almost six months The three sites that appear on the matchday shirts of Leicester, Wolves and Burnley were previously licensed by TGP Europe, a company based on the Isle of Man. On 15 May, TGP Europe surrendered its UK gambling licence to avoid a £3.3m fine, leaving DEBET and unable to legally accept UK customers. Leicester City sponsor has been unlicensed in the UK since it parted ways with TGP Europe in December 2024 - almost six months ago. Mr Prochaska said he contacted Leicester City on 13 March to alert them that was still accepting UK customers. "In fact, it was one of the easiest for me to gamble on - there were very few checks whatsoever," he says. "But Leicester don't seem to have done anything about it, and it's still on the front of their shirts." Leicester City FC did not respond to a request for comment. Bournemouth, Fulham and Newcastle United are also sponsored by casinos that were formerly licensed by TGP Europe, but have been unlicensed since 15 May. These casinos (bj88, SBOTOP and FUN88) are no longer able to legally accept UK customers. However, Sky News was able to use a VPN to sign up to all three casinos, as well as those sponsoring Leicester City, Wolverhampton and Burnley. On all six websites, Sky was able to access QR codes for making cryptocurrency deposits. Sky News did not attempt to make any deposits. All six casinos are forbidden by law from accepting UK customers. Yet Burnley sponsor allowed Sky News to sign up using a Telegram account registered to a UK phone number. The other websites all required phone numbers to be entered upon registration, which could be used as an additional layer of security to filter out UK customers. However, most of the websites did not check whether the phone number provided was genuine. Only one website, Leicester City sponsor did check. However, after confirming the phone number's authenticity, allowed registration to proceed - even though Sky News had provided a UK phone number. Sky News presented these findings to the football clubs concerned, to TGP Europe and to the Gambling Commission, but did not receive any comment. Anyone concerned about their gambling, or that of a loved one, can visit for free, confidential advice and support, or The National Gambling Helpline is available on 0808 8020 133 and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Sky News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Premier League clubs at risk of legal action over unlicensed casino sponsors
Casinos sponsoring two Premier League clubs are accepting UK customers without a licence, putting club officers at risk of prosecution, Sky News has learned. The gambling websites, and DEBET, are the matchday shirt sponsors of Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively. But an investigation by anti-gambling advert campaigners, shared with Sky News, suggests the casinos have continued to accept UK customers - despite this becoming unlawful after they lost their licences to operate in the UK. DEBET lost its licence on 15 May, while lost its licence in December 2024. Neither club has indicated that they intend to end the sponsorships, despite criticism from campaigners and warnings from the Gambling Commission. With the end of the 2024/25 season this weekend, both clubs are now half-way through two-year sponsorship deals with the casinos - putting them in a difficult position for next season. The campaign group Coalition to End Gambling Ads (CEGA) told Sky News it was able to make deposits on both gambling websites, despite the sites having no licence to accept UK customers. CEGA also successfully deposited cash on Burnley FC sponsor Burnley are due to be promoted to the Premier League next season. The findings come one week after the Gambling Commission warned five football clubs, including Wolverhampton and Burnley, that their officers "may be liable to prosecution and, if convicted, face a fine, imprisonment or both if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain". The Commission had issued a similar warning to Leicester City in February. It made clear then that the clubs must either cut ties with the casinos or ensure they are not accessible to UK customers "by any means" - including virtual private networks (VPNs) - software used to hide a user's real location. Other than the need to use a VPN, CEGA director Will Prochaska says it "really wasn't very difficult" to access the sites. The Gambling Commission declined to be interviewed by Sky News, but said that "where we have evidence that meets the standard for criminal prosecution we will take appropriate action". Head of enforcement at the Commission John Pierce previously said the body would "conduct ongoing spot checks as necessary to ensure they are not accessible to consumers in Great Britain by any means". Mr Prochaska, however, said the Commission was taking "far too long" to take action. "Far too many children, far too many football fans, are seeing these adverts every day," he said. "It's got to stop." Leicester City's sponsor has had no UK licence for almost six months The three sites that appear on the matchday shirts of Leicester, Wolves and Burnley were previously licensed by TGP Europe, a company based on the Isle of Man. On 15 May, TGP Europe surrendered its UK gambling licence to avoid a £3.3m fine, leaving DEBET and unable to legally accept UK customers. Leicester City sponsor has been unlicensed in the UK since it parted ways with TGP Europe in December 2024 - almost six months ago. Mr Prochaska said he contacted Leicester City on 13 March to alert them that was still accepting UK customers. "In fact, it was one of the easiest for me to gamble on - there were very few checks whatsoever," he says. "But Leicester don't seem to have done anything about it, and it's still on the front of their shirts." Leicester City FC did not respond to a request for comment. Bournemouth, Fulham and Newcastle United are also sponsored by casinos that were formerly licensed by TGP Europe, but have been unlicensed since 15 May. These casinos (bj88, SBOTOP and FUN88) are no longer able to legally accept UK customers. However, Sky News was able to use a VPN to sign up to all three casinos, as well as those sponsoring Leicester City, Wolverhampton and Burnley. On all six websites, Sky was able to access QR codes for making cryptocurrency deposits. Sky News did not attempt to make any deposits. All six casinos are forbidden by law from accepting UK customers. Yet Burnley sponsor allowed Sky News to sign up using a Telegram account registered to a UK phone number. The other websites all required phone numbers to be entered upon registration, which could be used as an additional layer of security to filter out UK customers. However, most of the websites did not check whether the phone number provided was genuine. Only one website, Leicester City sponsor did check. However, after confirming the phone number's authenticity, allowed registration to proceed - even though Sky News had provided a UK phone number. Sky News presented these findings to the football clubs concerned, to TGP Europe and to the Gambling Commission, but did not receive any comment.
Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Times
Premier League clubs' gambling sponsors leave UK after £3m fine
Premier League clubs are under pressure to ditch unlicensed gambling shirt sponsors after the betting regulator levied a £3 million fine on a series of high profile brands. Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle, Wolves and Burnley are all sponsored by betting websites run by TGP Europe. The firm, which oversees Stake, Fun88 and SportPesa, will leave the UK after it was handed a £3.3 million fine for failing to carry out sufficient checks on business partners and breaching anti-money laundering rules, the second such finding in three years. • National Lottery risks 'enforcement action' over failed promises The Gambling Commission has contacted the clubs warning they 'may be liable to prosecution … if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain'. There are
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Four Premier League clubs warned over gambling sponsors
Four Premier League clubs have been warned by the Gambling Commission over their relationship with an unlicensed gambling business. Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle, and Wolves, as well newly promoted Burnley, are all sponsored by betting websites run by TGP Europe. The company surrendered its UK licence after an investigation found it had failed to "carry out sufficient checks on business partners" and breached "anti-money laundering rules". A letter sent to the clubs has warned they "may be liable to prosecution…if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain". TGP Europe brands bj88 (Bournemouth), SBOTOP (Fulham), DEBET (Wolves), and (Burnley) all currently appear as match day shirt sponsors. FUN88 was Newcastle's shirt sponsor from 2017 to 2023, before becoming the club's "official Asian betting partner". BBC Sport has approached the five clubs and TGP Europe for comment. In February, the Gambling Commission contacted Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester about three other TGP Europe websites that had already lost their licence. Stake (Everton), kaiyun (Nottingham Forest), and (Leicester) have all remained on the respective shirts since. TGP Europe surrendered its licence after being told it needed to pay a £3.3 million penalty and "make significant improvements" to continue trading. The Gambling Commission says it is seeking assurances "that consumers in Great Britain cannot transact with the unlicensed sites". "Clubs will be asked to demonstrate that they have assurance that any steps to geo-block the sites are effective, recognising that some blocking can be easily bypassed by use of tools such as a Virtual Private Network", they added. From beer to betting - how have football shirt sponsors changed? Premier League to limit gambling sponsors on shirts More than half of this season's Premier League teams have a gambling company as their shirt sponsor. Premier League clubs have agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of their matchday shirts by the end of the 2025-26 season. The Coalition to End Gambling Ads raised concerns about TGP Europe's practices with the Gambling Commission. Director Will Prochaska said: "Action against TGP Europe is welcome, but warnings against advertising unlicensed gambling companies ring hollow." "Premier League clubs – including Everton and Leicester – have been advertising unlicensed sites for months." The Gambling Commission's head of enforcement John Pierce said: "We have already been in contact with several football clubs to highlight the impact of the withdrawal from the market by TGP and make clear that we will be carrying out checks - without further notice - to ensure these sites remain blocked. "We will also conduct ongoing spot checks as necessary to ensure they are not accessible to consumers in Great Britain by any means. Should any of these sites be available to GB consumers, we will take appropriate action. "It is essential that football clubs play their part in protecting fans and GB consumers who may be exposed to advertising of these sites through their sponsorship arrangements from harm or exploitation. All licensed operators with similar arrangements to TGP should take notice of the action taken in this case." Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone
