♓Stake.uk.com will no longer be a licensed website from next month, United Kingdom's gambling commission stated in a release on Thursday, February 12.
♓The development comes after an investigation was opened following an advertisement by Stake which involved an adult actress outside the Nottingham Trent University. Stake is also the shirt sponsor for the Premier League club Everton.
﷽TGP Europe Limited (TGP) which operates the site under a white-label arrangement has previously also been under the law agencies' scanner. TGP was penalised over £300,000 in April 2023 for anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures.
ꦑ"TGP Europe Limited (TGP), who operate the site as part of a white-label arrangement, have stated they will be shutting the site," stated the gambling commission's release.
🌠The commission will also write to Everton as well as a couple of more clubs with regards to the matter.
"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 release also stated that the club officers will also be liable to prosecution in case of non-compliance.
🍬"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."
