
GC warns of “escalating enforcement” over regulatory returns failings
Regulator says spate of penalties since October show that licensees are not adhering to new quarterly submission requirements, with threat of potential increase in action on the table


The Gambling Commission has warned operators of “escalating enforcement action” should repeated failings regarding regulatory returns continue to occur.
In an industry warning notice published before the Easter break, the regulator stated that following a flurry of fines over submission failings, it would consider further ramping up action over non-compliance.
Since 1 July 2024, the licence conditions for operators in the UK were updated, requiring licensees to submit regulatory returns on a quarterly basis, replacing the previous annual submission format.
The regulator added that since October of last year, 10 businesses had been fined over breaches of the respective licence condition.
As per the Gambling Commission’s website, recent examples of regulatory action include a £465 penalty for Bingo Lingo Limited, issued on 2 April, and a £500 penalty for J&E Slots Unlimited on 20 March.
Similarly, IMG Arena US paid out £450 in January for similar failings, Robert Waterhouse copped a £750 penalty in March and Clacton Pier Company Limited was hit with a £450 penalty last October.
Those fines came for either incorrectly completing data submission forms or failing to do so within the new timelines that have been in force since July.
The Gambling Commission said the next quarterly returns for operators are due by 28 April.
John Pierce, director of enforcement at the Gambling Commission, said: “Despite early engagement and the issuing of advice notices, further failures to comply with the regulatory returns process were identified in these cases.
“Operators are expected to understand their reporting obligations and must ensure returns are submitted on time via our online portal.”
“Repeated breaches and persistent non-compliance is likely to result in escalating enforcement action.”
In other Gambling Commission news, CEO Andrew Rhodes spoke to Sky News regarding the growing use of deepfakes of journalists and TV presenters to trick people into using illegal online casinos in the UK.
The investigation found newscasters had been victims of a deep fake, with their voices altered, talking about a mobile game and encouraging viewers to download and play.
In turn, that mobile game is in fact an unlicensed online casino app.
Rhodes said: “It’s important that people are vigilant. If an app is routing you to a site that is different to what was advertised, that’s almost certainly criminal.”