The white-label operator managed several domains that were involved with Premier League partnerships.
By Megan Elswyth
Key points:
– TGP Europe has left the UK market
– This leaves AFC Bournemouth, Fulham FC, Newcastle United FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Burnley FC with illegal sponsors
– TGP Europe was asked to pay a £3.3m penalty fee following an investigation
The Gambling Commission has confirmed that TGP Europe has withdrawn from the UK market rather than pay a £3.3m ($4.38m) penalty and improve its business operations.
TGP Europe is a white label operator responsible for 31 online casinos, including BCGame.uk, duelbits.co.uk and stake.uk.com.
BC.Game was the principal partner of Leicester City, with the tweet about the partnership reaching 2.2 billion views last summer.
Despite Leicester City winning the Premier League, the same couldn’t be said for BC.Game, with the company withdrawing its Curaçao licence amidst bankruptcy rumours.
Following an investigation by the Gambling Commission, TGP Europe was found to have failed to carry out effective due diligence on each entity involved in the ownership of the third party or the source of funds for business arrangements.
TGP Europe also failed to consider appropriate money laundering risks or “sufficiently consider any activity by a third-party that is illegal, in either GB or the territory in which it is conducted”.
Rather than pay the fine and ensure that its business practises align with UK standards, TGP has instead left the market – thus leaving many football clubs with unlicensed gambling partnerships.
The Gambling Commission has reached out to several football clubs to warn them of this.
Good to know: AFC Bournemouth is sponsored by BJ88, Fulham FC is sponsored by SBOTOP, Newcastle United FC is sponsored by both Sportsbet.io and Fun88, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC are sponsored by Debet and Burnley FC is sponsored by 96.com – all of which were operated by TGP Europe
The Commission has asked clubs to demonstrate they did their research and due diligence with the companies they partnered with.
John Pierce, Commission Head of Enforcement, said: “This case involves a gambling company that was unwilling or unable to meet the regulatory standards we expect from our licensees. It is right that they have now exited the British market.
“Following TGP’s exit, several online gambling operators can no longer lawfully offer gambling facilities to consumers located in Great Britain. These sites, previously operating under TGP’s licence, may not provide adequate protection against criminal activity or gambling-related harm and should not be available to GB consumers with immediate effect.”
The Commission also emphasises that clubs are responsible for checking that customers cannot easily access sites that are geoblocked easily through a VPN or make any transactions.
Pierce continued: “We have already been in contact with several football clubs today 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.
“We would like to warn consumers that sites operated by TGP are now unlicensed and may not provide protections against criminality or gambling related harm.”
