White label provider TGP Europe has decided to relinquish its authorization from the UK’s Gambling Commission after being instructed to pay a fine of £3.3 million. The penalty stems from an inquiry into the provider’s operations and its involvement in various white label football sponsorship agreements.
TGP has engaged in sponsorship agreements with several football clubs in the UK, such as AFC Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley. Last July, TGP’s brand bj-88.co.uk became the front-of-shirt sponsor for AFC Bournemouth for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Premier League seasons.
The UK’s gambling regulatory body is requesting the clubs to confirm that they have conducted proper due diligence on their white label partners to prevent consumers in Great Britain from accessing unlicensed platforms.
TGP managed 29 websites in the UK, including Duelbits.co.uk, Betvision.com, Leyubet.co.uk, Fun88.co.uk, and Oubao.co.uk.
The Gambling Commission revealed that TGP neglected to perform adequate checks on its business associates and violated anti-money laundering regulations.
Consequently, the UK regulator imposed a £3.3 million penalty on TGP and demanded substantial enhancements in its business practices to continue operating in the UK market.
Instead of complying with the requirements, the white label provider opted to forfeit its authorization to operate legally in the UK.
Gambling Commission’s Investigation of TGP
The Gambling Commission disclosed that its investigation found TGP had failed to conduct due diligence on the ownership of third parties involved in its operations and did not scrutinize the source of funds used in transactions.
TGP overlooked money laundering risks and did not adequately assess the legality of activities by third parties it engaged with, as stated by the Gambling Commission.
John Pierce, Head of Enforcement at the Gambling Commission, remarked, “Following TGP’s exit, several online gambling operators are no longer permitted to offer gambling services to consumers in Great Britain.”
“These platforms, formerly operating under TGP’s license, may lack sufficient safeguards against criminal activities or gambling-related harm and should be inaccessible to British consumers immediately,” he added.
The commission advised the public to consult the business register to identify legal sites and avoid participating in gambling on now-illegal TGP platforms that may not provide adequate protection.
In 2023, TGP was previously fined by the Gambling Commission for various breaches related to anti-money laundering and social responsibility, resulting in a penalty of £316,250 and an official warning.
Reforms in White Label Football Sponsorship
The penalty imposed on TGP and its license surrender will shed new light on the functioning of white label sponsorships in English football.
White label football sponsorships have drawn scrutiny from both the UK government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport and the Gambling Commission.
In the UK, non-UK licensed operators can engage in sponsorship agreements with sports teams if a UK licensed company manages the white label version of their services.
This model has faced increased scrutiny recently. Gambling minister Baroness Twycross revealed at a GambleAware conference in December that investigations were ongoing concerning this model.
Twycross’ announcement followed the revelation that the Curaçao-licensed BC Game was operating unlawfully. BC Game was declared bankrupt by a local court for failing to compensate players and decided to withdraw its license from the “hostile” Curaçao market in December.
Twycross emphasized ongoing investigations into white label reforms and stated, “If further action is necessary, we will take it.”
