The UKGC has issued huge fines this year to many of the top gambling businesses including a record £19.2 million to the William Hill Group. (Photo by Peter Spencer on Pexels.com)
Today we take a look at some of the biggest fines that have been issued so far this year. The UK Gambling Commission is clamping down and gambling businesses are feeling their pinch.
Some of the biggest fines include £4.1m to 32Red, £2.9m to Platinum Gaming, £2m to Videoslots Limited, and of course, the record £19.2m to the William Hill Group.
Other businesses that also face regulatory action are Blue Star Planet, TGP Europe, and Skill On Net Limited.
Although most of us do not like fines in our everyday lives, when it comes to penalties handed out within the online gambling entertainment industry, we should look at these fines favourably.
The UKGC is hitting operators hard when they do not follow rules designed to keep UK casino players safe. That means fines encourage UK online casino sites to ensure players receive an optimal service.
Most of the fines are issued due to social responsibility failures and anti-money laundering failures.
Blue Star Planet has to pay £620,000 in fines for regulatory failures
An investigation by the UK Gambling Commission revealed that Blue Star Planet failed to comply with the Gambling Act 2005. It was found that they had both anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures. The company runs 10bet.co.uk and they trade as 10Bet. The £620,000 that is to be paid as a settlement will all go to socially responsible causes in order to work back the social impact.
More details can be found in the Blue Star Planet Limited Public Statement.
Two of the biggest online operators, 32Red and Platinum Gaming, are fined a total of £7.1m
Both 32Red and Platinum Gaming form part of one of the leaders in online gambling, Kindred Group plc. Of the £7.1m, 32Red who runs 32red.com is to pay £4.2m and Platinum Gaming who runs unibet.co.uk is to pay £2.9m. The two operators have been found guilty of failing to uphold regulations for social responsibility and anti-money laundering. According to the executive director of the Gambling Commission, the operators need to take better steps to protect their customers.
A record-breaking £19.2m fine is given to the William Hill Group
The total amount includes the fines given to three different businesses that all fall under the William Hill Group. WHG Limited (williamhill.com) has received the biggest fine amongst them and is to pay £12.5m, Mr Green Limited (mrgreen.com) got £3.7m, and William Hill Organization Limited who operates over a thousand gambling sites across the UK is to pay £3m.
All fines are because of failures to adhere to social responsibility and anti-money laundering regulations.
TGP Europe received a £326,250 fine for regulatory failures
The online gambling operator was investigated by the Gambling Commission and it was found that they failed to uphold regulations for social responsibility and anti-money laundering. TGP Europe runs 19 different gambling websites and according to the commission, their websites do not offer enough protection to customers.
Not only have they received an official warning, but additional conditions have also been added to their gambling license. More details on their full penalty can be found in the official release.
A £305,150 fine has been issued to Skill On Net Limited for failures
Skill On Net Limited is one of the biggest online gambling operators with over 50 websites under their domain. They were investigated by the Gambling Commission who found that there were both anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures.
As a result of these regulatory failures, the operator is to pay £305,150 in fines which will all go to socially responsible causes. This is a way the Commission implements positive change on the back of social wrongdoings.
PPB Counterparty Services Limited has received a £490,000 fine for marketing to vulnerable customers
The online operator who trades as Paddy Power and Betfair, has been fined for sending out a marketing notification to customers who had indicated that they did not want to receive any promotional content. A warning was given by the Commission that all gambling operators should adhere to the rules and that reasonable steps should be taken to prevent any promotional content from being sent to users who are self-excluded.
These accounts need to be removed from marketing databases within two days after the self-exclusion request.
Videoslots Limited was hit with a £2m fine for failing to uphold regulations
The penalty comes after a Commission investigation found them guilty of failures in social responsibility and anti-money laundering regulations. Videoslots Limited run three gambling websites – videoslots.co.uk, videoslots.com, and mrvegas.com. It was found that their websites did offer customers enough risk protection and they did not have enough measures in place to counter money-laundering attempts.
The £2m fine will go towards causes that are socially responsible to create positive change. More details can be found in the full public statements.
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