Platinum Gaming Fined £10 Million by UK Regulator
The UK Gambling Commission has imposed a £10 million fine on Platinum Gaming Limited, the operator behind Unibet and Bingo UK, for serious failings in social responsibility and anti-money laundering (AML) measures. The operator, which had previously been sanctioned in 2023, must now undergo an independent audit and improve its internal controls.
Regulator Identifies Player Protection Failures
The Gambling Commission concluded that Platinum Gaming ignored several warning signs indicating gambling harm. One player lost £5,000 within 24 hours and more than £16,000 in less than three months without any intervention from the operator. Another customer lost over £31,000 in nine months, repeatedly hitting monthly loss limits, yet received no contact from the company’s responsible gambling team.
Chief Executive Andrew Rhodes said:
“These failings are particularly disappointing given the progress we have seen in reducing unmonitored high spending and the fact that Platinum Gaming had already been subject to enforcement action.”
Investigators also discovered a case where a player lost £2,500 within 16 minutes of opening an account. The operator did not recognise this as binge gambling, nor did it apply any safeguards or affordability checks. The regulator noted that such cases demonstrate weak internal controls and a lack of proactive monitoring, especially concerning new customers who display early markers of harm.
The Gambling Commission emphasised that licensed operators have a duty to identify risky behaviour and act swiftly to prevent escalation. Failure to engage with vulnerable players undermines efforts to promote safer gambling across the UK market and could lead to further regulatory sanctions.
Weak Anti-Money Laundering Controls
The regulator also identified major weaknesses in Platinum Gaming’s anti-money laundering (AML) systems. The company’s risk assessment excluded customers whose accounts had been closed for money laundering or terrorism financing concerns, which created blind spots in its oversight. Moreover, its AML policy lacked clear guidance on when to apply standard or enhanced due diligence, leaving compliance teams without consistent procedures.
Andrew Rhodes said:
“This case underlines the importance of maintaining effective systems and controls that protect consumers and prevent financial crime. Operators who fail to meet these standards will face severe consequences.”
The Gambling Commission has required Platinum Gaming to submit to an independent audit that will assess both its social responsibility and AML controls. The company must also strengthen board-level oversight and provide regular progress reports to the regulator. The enforcement action reflects the Commission’s continued focus on raising compliance standards within the iGaming industry and ensuring that operators take full responsibility for consumer protection.
The £10 million fine serves as a strong warning to other operators that inadequate risk management and poor customer protection will not be tolerated. It also reinforces the regulator’s broader strategy of holding licensees accountable and ensuring that gambling businesses operate transparently and responsibly.
