Consumers are being advised that Stake.uk.com will no longer be a
licensed website from next month.
TGP Europe
Limited (TGP), who operate the site as part of
a white-label
arrangement, have stated they will be shutting the site.
The move follows the launch of a Commission investigation into a
widely viewed video displaying the Stake-branded logo, which was
distributed on a social media platform and featured an adult
actress outside Nottingham Trent University.
TGP has previously been the subject of enforcement
action and after a meeting with the Commission have
stated they will immediately stop accepting new registrations to
the Stake.uk.com platform and remove redirection links from the
main Stake website. Final shutdown of the Great Britain site will
take place by 11 March 2025.
Stake are currently front of shirt sponsor of English Premier
League Football Club Everton.
The Commission will be writing to Everton – along with two other
football clubs with unlicensed sponsors - warning of the risks of
promoting unlawful gambling websites.
The Commission will seek assurance from the clubs that they have
carried out due diligence on their white label partners and that
consumers in Great Britain cannot transact with the unlicensed
sites.
Clubs will be asked to demonstrate that they have assurance that
any steps to geo-block the sites are effective, recognising that
some blocking can be easily by-passed by use of tools such as a
Virtual Private Network.
Clubs 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 Commission will also
be taking steps to independently verify effective measures are in
place.
The letter will warn that club officers may be liable to
prosecution and, if convicted, face a fine, imprisonment or both
if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with
consumers in Great Britain.
When an operator leaves the British gambling market we expect an
orderly closure of its website to consumers in Great Britain and
this includes providing consumers with clear information on how
to obtain their funds. If a customer has questions concerning
their account they should contact the operator via its website.
More information about our expectations from
operators closing their business.
