The UK Gambling Commission has imposed an interim suspension on the licence of igaming and sports betting operator Stakers due to a number of unstated compliance issues.
Stressing that a review has been commenced under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005, the UKGC has taken the decision to “suspend Operating Licence No 000-050185-R-328112-006 Combined Remote Operating Licence – Real Event and Virtual Betting Casino held by Stakers Limited”.
As a result of the suspension, which has become effective immediately, Stakers is no longer permitted to offer gambling services via its stakers.com website in Great Britain.
The company has also been instructed to facilitate customers accessing their accounts to withdraw funds and advise players not to place any bets through the website.
In a media release the regulator states that it suspects that Stakers has breached a condition of the licence (section 116(2)(a) of the Gambling Act 2005) and is unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities (section 116(2)(c)(i) of the Gambling Act 2005), with a licence suspension pending the conclusion of a review deemed necessary.
Section 116(2)(a) of the Gambling Act 2005 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.”
Furthermore, section 116(2)(c)(i) states that the UKGC can launch a licence review if it “suspects that the licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities”.
