UK Gambling Minister Warns of Potential Further Action Against UK White-Label Operators

Twycross is engaging the Gambling Commission and the industry to gather further evidence of their “prevalence and impact.”

“If further action is needed, we will take it.”

The comments have come amid controversy involving Leicester City sponsor BC.Game. The company has denied a court ruling in licensing location Curaçao that declared the operator is facing bankruptcy. The brand shut its UK operations last week, and this has led to question marks over the sponsorship deal they have in place.

White-label casinos allow different companies to use a provider’s active online gambling license in one of the existing gambling jurisdictions and launch their own brand without being individually licensed, a practice that may be cracked down upon.

Melanie Ellis, a partner at Northridge Law, a firm specialising in the industry, said:

“It is not clear what such action might involve, as requiring all advertisers to hold their own licence could mean the end of white label arrangements. More specific and rigorous due diligence requirements on white label partners could be on the agenda, however.”

The gambling minister also discussed the recent levy put in place to fund research and prevention of problem gambling and potential gambling harm. Twycross explained that this funding for the NHS will “unify service provision and raise standards” and added that collaboration with third-sector charities like GambleAware will be “crucial.”

“It is hugely important to get this decision right as we build a sustainable, future-proof system. We hope to confirm our plans in the coming weeks,”

Baroness Twycross said.