Advertising unregulated gambling sites becomes a touchy subject in the UK and provinces of Canada with domestic online gambling licensing.
In Canada’s province of Ontario, local advertisers have been promoting an overseas gambling site that accepts Canadian Dollars and cryptocurrency, while in the UK, Premier League football teams are sporting the logos of overseas online casinos.
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) have made it clear that they are unhappy with these advertising campaigns.
They claim that advertisements featuring the brand names of online gambling entertainment sites that are not approved under their respective licensing frameworks could sway locals from gambling at sites approved domestically.
Although the two gaming commissions have very different approaches to the use of overseas online gambling sites within their jurisdictions, both authorities have made it clear that they are not satisfied with what they’ve seen.
In Ontario, citizens are not forbidden from using sites not operating under the AGCO’s online gambling authority, which is iGaming Ontario (iGO). Nevertheless, they don’t want to see Ontario websites or other publications sway people away from domestically regulated platforms.
For the UK online gambling market, the rules are very different. Overseas online gambling sites are considered illegal operations and, by British law, are acting illegally by allowing UK citizens to sign up to their websites. Yet, the UKGC does not actively chase down the owners of these sites for prosecution.
The Current AGCO Advertising Complaint
As a result of advertising by overseas casinos, particularly one called Bogdog, Ontario’s gambling watchdog has issued a stark warning. The AGCO has warned dozens of media outlets, both online and traditional, to cease giving airtime to unregulated gambling sites. Bogdog seems to be one of the main culprits, paying advertising dollars to target Ontarians aggressively.
Bogdog operates under precarious licensing, which is the Antigua Online Gaming Association. A licensing authority that is certainly not one we recommend here at Casinoplusbonus. Additionally, as an FYI, the platform stands out on Trustpilot for its ‘Poor’ rating, with a score of 1.4 out of 5 from players. Not exactly the kind of platform the AGCO wants its citizens to be exposed to.
According to the new report we read on Yogonet, Bodog has been blocked in places like Quebec and Nova Scotia, yet the site’s brand name is still finding ways to advertise in Ontario. However, despite Ontarians having the option to sign up to overseas casinos and sportsbooks like Bogdog, media outlets in the province are not allowed to advertise them.
Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of AGCO Dr. Karin Schnarr made a statement saying: “By refusing to carry advertising from unregulated and high-risk operators like Bodog, media outlets can exemplify social responsibility and play an important role in protecting Ontarians and supporting Ontario’s regulated market.”
The Current UKGC Football Advertisement Complaint
I’ve always wondered how British football clubs have been able to advertise overseas online casinos. I am familiar with the UK market, as well as the global iGaming and sports betting market. I have often wondered how the logos of what the UKGC considers black-market online casinos and sportsbooks are still allowed to be displayed in interview rooms and on the shirts of British clubs.
The main clubs contacted by the UKGC have been Everton, Nottingham Forest, and Leicester, who advertise Stake, Kaiyun, and BC.Game, respectively. Some of the casinos advertised, such as Stake, had operated under UKGC licensing but had since withdrawn after the operator, TGP Europe, landed itself a £3.3 million fine and decided to exit the UK market. The UKGC’s letter to clubs was a warning to ensure that they do not advertise online casinos that actively accept players from the UK.
Other clubs that feature sponsorship from online gambling sites operating under TGP Europe include Wolves, Newcastle, Fulham, and Bournemouth. According to a BBC report, ‘Premier League clubs warned over gambling sponsors‘, these clubs could be liable for prosecution if they continue to advertise overseas online casinos.
The Gambling Commission’s head of enforcement John Pierce, said: “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“.
Casinoplusbonus Opinion
We understand the perspective of both licensing authorities. At the end of the day they want players to play at online gambling platforms governed by local laws. It means players are playing under the protection of the laws of their country and not through the laws of the country where the licensing is held. Quite often, if large monetary disputes occur, the governing laws are those of an overseas legal system.
With that said, we have seen the Curacao legal system work well for players who have previously taken operators to court for disputes that involve large sums of money. However, the players involved are obviously high rollers who were able to hire local law firms in Curacao. For the little guy, such action would generally be out of reach without the necessary financial resources. As such, the UKGC and AGCO are looking out for their citizens, while we also acknowledge that tax dollars are involved, and both the country and province only want online gambling sites that contribute to the local player base.
The last point we would like to make is that Premier League football is viewed by billions of people overseas, who can access the online casinos and sportsbooks that the league advertises. I think the main point is, if those sites advertise and accept players from the UK, then the clubs could be held responsible from a legal standpoint.
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