Betway Fine
Request
The Gambling Commission fined Betway in 2020 for failings linked to 'VIP'customers Betway to Pay.
We were wondering if Betway finally paid the £11.6m fine.
Also we would like to know why the Gambling Commission didn't suspend or revoke Betway's license then.
Besides, we would appreciate if you could tell us what's the current status of Betway's license.
Response
Thank you for your request which has been processed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
In your email you have referenced:
The Gambling Commission fined Betway in 2020 for failings linked to 'VIP'customers’ Betway to Pay.
You have requested:
- If Betway finally paid the £11.6m fine.
Funds from regulatory settlements can include commitments and undertakings as well as a payment in lieu of financial penalty. This may include up to 3 sub-elements depending on the circumstances of the case. These are:
1) divestment back to individuals impacted by the operator’s non-compliance with regulatory requirements. This is usually the customer or a victim of crime, where such victims can be identified. This could be for example, where an individual has stolen from their employer and has spent the money gambling and the operator has not met the regulatory requirements.
2) payments made to organisations for social responsibility purposes.
3) recovery of the Gambling Commission’s costs.
I can confirm that the £11.6m fine has now been paid by Betway to the allocated destinations.
- Why the Gambling Commission didn’t suspend or revoke Betway's license then.
Each decision the Commission makes is done so on a case-by-case basis, based on a number of policies. The Gambling Commission exists to safeguard players and the wider public by ensuring gambling is fair and safe.
The main ways we do this is by:
- licensing gambling businesses.
- licensing people who work in the gambling industry, in specific roles.
- setting out Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).
- carrying out compliance activities.
- enforcement action and prosecution work, if a business or individual breaches their licence conditions.
- working closely with the gambling industry to raise standards.
- providing advice and guidance to players and the public.
- being the leading authority on gambling related statistics and research.
We are required to produce a statement setting out the principles we apply in carrying out our functions.
The statement underpins our work and explains the key principles that help us pursue the licensing objectives. This statement does not apply to the exercise of our functions in relation to the National Lottery.
Our Statement of principles for licensing and regulation underpins our work. We have also developed a number of policies which build on that statement and govern how we will carry out certain aspects of our work, including:
- Licensing, compliance and enforcement policy statement under the Gambling Act 2005.
- Statement of principles for determining financial penalties.
- Indicative sanctions guidance (PDF) (opens in new tab).
- Regulatory decisions: Procedures and guidance for regulatory hearings.
- What's the current status of Betway's license.
The Gambling Commission publishes information about all licensees (including their licence status) on its website:
Betway Limited - Licence summary.
Review of the decision
If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your Freedom of Information request you are entitled to an internal review of our decision. You should write to FOI Team, Gambling Commission, 4th floor, Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B2 4BP or by reply to this email.
Please note, internal review requests should be made within 40 working days of the initial response. Requests made outside this timeframe will not be processed.
If you are not content with the outcome of our review, you may then apply directly to the Information Commissioner (ICO) for a decision. Generally, the ICO cannot make a decision unless you have already exhausted the review procedure provided by the Gambling Commission.
The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office (opens in a new tab), Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
Information Management Team
Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Victoria Square
Birmingham B2 4BP