The news followed the UK government signalling last year it intended to take NEXT.io helped break, at Leicester City FC sponsor BC.Game.
The simultaneous exit of so many white label operators, first reported by SBC’s InsiderSport, could make waves in the Premier League, where five teams were previously sponsored by TGP-licensed, now unlicensed, brands.
John Pierce, Gambling 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 gambling regulator outlined the financial penalty had been issued to TGP for failing to carry out sufficient checks on its business partners, and breaching anti-money laundering rules.
These included not checking whether activity by its clients was illegal, either in Britain or other territories.
Commission warns club officers could be prosecuted
The Commission said yesterday (15 May) it had ed AFC Bournemouth, Fulham FC, Newcastle United FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Burnley FC and warned them about the risks of promoting unlicensed gambling websites.
These clubs were sponsored by the brands bj88, SBOTOP, Sportsbet.io, DEBET and W88 respectively.
Going forward, the clubs will be asked to demonstrate that they have assurance that any steps to geo-block the sites are effective, including against customers using VPNs.
In addition, they will be expected to carry out sufficient due diligence to assure the Commission that consumers cannot transact with the sites from Great Britain by any means.The letter warned club officers may be liable for prosecution and, if convicted, face both a possible prison term and fines if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses taking bets from GB consumers.
Pierce added: “We have already been in 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.”
TGP Europe’s reputation
The penalty marked TGP Europe’s second fine, after it faced a £316,250 action in 2023 for failures including not properly considering and mitigating money laundering risks posed by B2B relationships, and having ineffective white label due diligence policies and procedures.
In some ways the action marks the end of an era in UK gambling, with white label sponsorship agreements having raised eyebrows with observers for years.
Reporting by investigative journalism outlets had previously revealed concerning patterns of behaviour including fictional executives, secretive operations and questions about the legality of their activities.
In some cases, white label-licensed Asian-facing brands had been linked to transnational organised crime, including human trafficking in online gambling scam compounds.
Brands targeting Asian markets, especially China, have faced increased scrutiny in recent years amid a new wave of enforcement in the region.
Previous reporting had linked TGP Europe to jailed junket baron Alvin Chau, who has been accused of running a “triad organisation” by Chinese prosecutors.
