The UK Gambling Commission has issued an immediate suspension of the operating licence of BGO Entertainment, as the regulator undertakes a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.
This, says the UKGC, comes amid concerns that activities may have been carried out contrary to the Act, not in accordance with conditions of their licence and that the licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities. Failing to protect consumers was a key consideration in the suspension decision, it is added.
The suspension, which has been authorised under section 118 (2) of the Act, does not prevent the operator from allowing consumers to access their accounts and withdrawing funds. BGO Entertainment operates bgo.com, m.bgo.com, powerspins.com, vegasluck.com and chilli.com.
Section 118 (2) states that: The Commission may review any matter connected with the provision of facilities for gambling as authorised by an operating licence if the Commission:
- Has reason to suspect that activities may have been carried on in purported reliance on the licence but not in accordance with a condition of the licence,
- Believes that the licensee, or a person who exercises a function in connection with or is interested in the licensed activities, has acquired a conviction of a kind mentioned in section 71(1), or
- For any reason suspects that the licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities, or thinks that a review would be appropriate.
A statement issued via each of the aforementioned online gambling portals reads: “Following a notification from the Gambling Commission of Great Britain that BGO Entertainment limited operating licence has been suspended, it is with regret that we have to inform you that UK players are not currently permitted to access any of our services.”
Adding: “We’re working with the Gambling Commission to resolve this situation quickly, but in the meantime you are able to withdraw any funds currently in your account. Deposits will not be permitted.”
In October 2020, BGO was issued with a £2m payment in lieu of a financial penalty by the UKGC following a number of failures, which included not doing enough to keep consumers safe and failing to prevent money laundering and criminal spending.
As a result, the group had tougher conditions imposed on its licence, while also being reminded of a need to improve policies and procedures as well as making payments to progress the work of the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms
