By PAUL O’DONOGHUE, Senior Correspondent
GAMBLING firm TGP Europe, which is linked to several Premier League clubs, has left the UK market after receiving a £3.3 million AML fine.
“The fine was for failing to carry out sufficient checks on business partners and breaching anti-money laundering rules,” the Commission said.
TGP Europe, based on the Isle of Man, held the UK licence for several sites which sponsor Premier League football clubs. The company has now left the British market, the regulator said.
The Commission said it contacted five football clubs—AFC Bournemouth, Fulham FC, Newcastle United FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Burnley FC—to warn that they are promoting unlicensed gambling websites. Club officials who continue advertising them could face prosecution.
“This case involves a gambling company that was unwilling or unable to meet the regulatory standards we expect from our licensees,” said John Pierce, head of enforcement at the Commission.
The affected sponsors include BJ88 (Bournemouth), SBOTOP (Fulham), Sportsbet.io and Fun88 (Newcastle), Debet (Wolves), and 96.com (Burnley).
The Commission has asked clubs to prove they conducted due diligence on their white-label partners and to ensure UK users can no longer access the sites. It also wants evidence that geo-blocking methods are effective. The regulator warned that some techniques can be bypassed using VPNs.
If clubs fail to act, their officials could face fines, imprisonment or both.
TGP Europe checks
“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 to ensure these sites remain blocked,” said Pierce.
“We will also conduct ongoing spot checks as necessary. Should any of these sites be available to GB consumers, we will take appropriate action.
Pierce said clubs must help protect fans and consumers from harm linked to gambling ads. “All licensed operators with similar arrangements to TGP should take notice of the action taken in this case.”
The Commission also warned the public to avoid TGP-operated sites, which no longer offer protection against criminal activity or gambling-related harm.
Earlier this year, Stake—another TGP white-label partner and sponsor of Everton FC—shut down its UK-facing site following a regulatory investigation into its advertising.
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