Spribe Licence Suspension Signals Greater UKGC Focus on B2B Compliance

Hosting Activity Under Review

According to the regulator, Spribe has been hosting casino games on its own platform on behalf of licensed operators without holding the appropriate permissions.

The company’s Gambling Software licence did not cover hosting activity, despite its content being live with prominent UK brands including Paddy Power, 888casino, Genting Casino, BetVictor and BetMGM.

“We have clearly communicated to the operator that all hosting activity must stop immediately unless and until a suitable hosting licence is obtained. Under Section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005, it is a criminal offence to provide facilities for gambling in Great Britain without a licence from the Gambling Commission, unless a specific exemption applies.

The Gambling Commission takes a robust approach to unlicensed gambling activity and always expects the highest standards of compliance and integrity from its licensees.”

Compliance Focus Expands to B2B Sector

Spribe is licensed in multiple major jurisdictions including Malta, Gibraltar, the Netherlands, Sweden and Ontario. The suspension is not related to illegal gambling operations, but rather a regulatory infraction involving business-to-business hosting. This marks a notable shift in UKGC enforcement priorities.

Historically, the Commission has primarily targeted B2C operators for breaches, but has increasingly signalled plans to extend scrutiny to the B2B ecosystem.

• See also: UK Debate on Higher Gambling Taxes

The decision to suspend Spribe’s licence reinforces that intent, indicating that hosting and distribution models will now receive more attention under UK compliance protocols. As of publication, Spribe has not issued a public response to the suspension. SBC Media has contacted the company for further comment.