The latest UK casino gossip May 2023 investigates SkillOnNet’s 6-figure fine & takes a close look into Inspired Gaming’s retail slots deal. (Photo by Kylie Anderson on Unsplash)
It’s time for another UK casino gossip catch-up, and surprisingly it is mostly quiet on the Western front.
That is aside from the UK Gambling Act review issued through the latest White Paper. As we have covered the topic in detail, it’s time to look at what else is happening. And it seems despite the new rules, video slots are still very much on the menu on the UK high street/retail gambling scene.
Of course, no UK casino gossip report is complete without regulatory news, and unfortunately for one operator and software provider, it’s bad news. SkillOnNet has found itself on the wrong side of an investigation by the UK Gambling Commission which has resulted in a 6-figure fine.
If you would like to catch up with other news coming out of the UK, then I recommend checking out our iGaming casino new page. Under the gambling legislation section, you’ll find news covering the new ‘Regulating the Game Conference’ and there’s another interesting report from the NHS in the UK stating that problem gambling rates in England are declining.
Interested in regulatory or games news: Check out the tags in the footer of this news. Select them to find out more about casino games, gambling economy news and regulatory news from the UK and around the globe.
Extended Partnership between Inspired Entertainment and Paddy Power
The Inspired Entertainment software provider and NASDAQ stock exchange-listed company has extended its presence in the United Kingdom. A popular land-based casino developer and online slots found on our dedicated page to the best gambling sites UK.
As per a new agreement extending a 12-year deal already in place, Inspired Entertainment will continue supplying its products to 600+ Paddy Power high-street bookie locations, owned by Flutter Entertainment, in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Inspired also supplies land-based video slot arcades with video slot machines as well as a select few casino establishments in the country.
A week ago, Inspired Entertainment recently announced a deal with Spanish firm Cristaltec adding to its Amusement With Prize (AWP) vertical in Italy. The Cristaltec VLT cabinets will use Inspired’s Codere platform for multi-slot and casino gaming on its machines.
Find out more about land-based casino game developers also operating online casino games via the arcade fruit machines online and land-based slots manufacturers guide.
UKGC Penalises SkillOnNet for Regulatory Failures
SkillOnNet, an online gaming software provider and operator, has been fined £ 305,150 by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for a series of social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.
Between January 2021 to December 2022, the company was found to have failed on several measures laid out by the UK Gaming Act. The UKGC said that SkillOnNet was found to not have the correct policies, procedures, and controls to meet anti-money laundering (AML) and responsible gambling obligations.
- AML (Anti-Money Laundering): SkillOnNet was also found to be lacking in identifying money laundering risks and enforcing effective policies. It inadequately utilized the account information provided by the regulatory authority, failing to properly consider customer salaries and risk profiles. The company did not comply with the requirement of an annual AML report by a designated officer and relied too heavily on verbal comments and monetary thresholds.
- Responsible Gaming: SkillOnNet allowed customers to deposit and lose amounts exceeding the firm’s £ 2,000 limit as those responsible for monitoring responsible gambling assumed gamblers were ‘recycling’ or ‘restaking’ previous winnings. The company’s inability to identify vulnerable customers and potential harm indicators was amplified by ineffective interactions, deemed by the UKGC as inadequate in capturing necessary information for risk assessment.
In response to these failures, SkillOnNet has begun the process of adjusting its processes. According to the UKGC’s Statement of Principles for licensing and regulation, the operator and software provider must pay a financial penalty of £305,150. According to the UKGC, the fine is to be donated to non-profits that specialize in social responsibility causes connected to gambling.
As an added penalty, SkillOnNet must also reimburse UK gambling regulatory authority for the cost of the investigation, which amounted to £9,079.
As part of a broader effort to ensure compliance, SkillOnNet has also agreed to undergo a third-party audit. This audit aims to confirm that the company implements effective, safer gambling, and anti-money laundering policies, controls, and procedures. The intention is to prevent any such regulatory failures in the future and ensure a safer gaming environment.
50+ Gambling Websites: SkillOnNet operates over 50 online casinos and sports books. Out of those 50, 15 sites are operated by operators using the SkillOnNet platform via white-label agreements.
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