The UK Gambling Commission has initiated a review of a subsidiary of Gibraltar-headquartered online gambling operator 888 Holdings.
Information on the matter is still very limited, but it seems that the unnamed subsidiary will have its license reviewed in relation to the provision of online gaming services to UK customers. Information has leaked out that the country’s gambling regulator will pay special attention to the tools deployed by the licensee to ensure that services have been provided in a socially responsible manner.
It has also become known that self-exclusion as a tool deployed across different operating platforms will also be included in the UKGC’s probe. 888 has remained tight-lipped on which one of its subsidiaries has appeared on the regulator’s radar screen, but has pointed out that it will be fully cooperative throughout the review.
If any violations of the license terms are found, 888 may become another major operator to be scolded by the commission. Earlier this month, the regulatory body slapped a £300,000 fine on gambling company BGO Entertainment Ltd. The Alderney-based operator was fined for featuring misleading ads on its website. It also became clear that several of its affiliates had too featured misleading content.
It was last September when BGO was informed by the UKGC that it will have its license reviewed. The commission’s findings showed that the operator’s website featured nine misleading ads in the period between July 17, 2015 and July 21, 2016. Prior to the review, BGO had been warned to clear its marketing content from any elements that could have confused players in any way, but had apparently failed to do so.
A major operator like 888 being reviewed so soon after the announcement about the BGO fine may be an indication that the Gambling Commission has embarked on a heavier crackdown on gambling companies’ failure to comply with the terms of their licenses.
The UK gambling market is currently among the largest, if not the largest regulated one. Last year, the UKGC reported that the amount of £13.6 billion was generated in gross gambling yield in the period between April 2015 and March 2016. GGY from remote gaming and betting operations totaled £4.5 billion, thus becoming the country’s largest sector.
Since established more than a decade ago, the Gambling Commission has been charged with regulating the local industry. Ensuring the provision of socially responsible gambling services has been among the regulator’s main objectives. And it has been working closely with other bodies to cover different aspects of social responsibility. The UK advertising regulator – Advertising Standards Authority – has been among the UKGC’s long-time partners in its fight against license violations. The ASA participated closely in the commission’s review of BGO’s advertising activity.
