UK Gambling Commission Charges Sorare with Operating Unlicensed Gambling Services
French fantasy sports platform Sorare, an official partner of the Premier League, faces charges from the UK Gambling Commission alleging the provision of unlicensed gambling services to consumers in Britain.
Allegations of Unlicensed Gambling
The UK Gambling Commission has charged Sorare with allegedly operating unlicensed gambling activities in the United Kingdom. The platform is accused of providing gambling facilities without the necessary authorization, which is a requirement for such operations within the country.
In January 2023, Sorare secured a four-year agreement with the Premier League, allowing the platform to release digital player cards from all 20 Premier League clubs as part of its free-to-play online fantasy football game. Sorare is prominently featured on the Premier League’s official website as a partner.
Sorare enables users to buy digital player cards, known as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), using cryptocurrency. Players can build and manage virtual teams, competing for prizes that include a share of over $15 million in total cash rewards, VIP tickets, signed jerseys, and more.
Sorare’s Response to the Charges
A spokesperson for Sorare stated, “We are aware of the claims made by the Gambling Commission and have instructed our UK counsel to challenge them. We firmly deny any claims that Sorare is a gambling product under UK laws. The Commission has misunderstood our business and wrongly determined that gambling laws apply to Sorare. We cannot comment further whilst legal proceedings are underway.”
Beyond the Premier League, Sorare has partnerships with major sports leagues such as Major League Soccer (MLS), Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, the NBA, and MLB. High-profile athletes like Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé are associated with the platform, promoting it on their social media channels. Former footballers Rio Ferdinand and Gerard Piqué are also among its investors and partners.
The UK Gambling Commission began investigating Sorare in 2021 to determine if it required a gambling license. While the Premier League has declined to comment on the recent charges, clubs like Liverpool FC previously partnered with Sorare. Liverpool’s agreement expired in May, and they no longer have an active relationship with the company.
