The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has initiated a review into the online gambling technology provider FSB Technology (UK) Limited because of regulatory concerns. The review is being carried out under s116 of the Gambling Act.
As revealed by the gambling regulatory body, FSB Technology has voluntarily suspended the activities on its Blackbet website. This action, however, this would not prevent the company from paying out its customers. The UKGC has called for all customers who have any questions in terms of their accounts to directly contact the operator by sending it an email to a designated email address which is available for queries.
Section 116 (s116) of the Gambling Act 2005 provides the UK Gambling Commission with the opportunity to start a review in case it gets a report that a certain gambling company which operates under a Commission’s license is offering services which are not legally covered by its operating licence. Such reports could also be sent to the UKGC in case a gambling licence holder has “acquired a conviction”, or if the country’s regulatory body suspects that the company is not suitable to continue offering its licensed activities.
This has been the second major problem which involves white-label partners of FSB Technology in the UK in August 2019. As Casino Guardian reported last week, the online gambling operator 1xBet suspended its operations in the UK after an investigation into improper conduct. According to allegations, the international operations of the company included live cockfight betting, running a casino featuring topless croupiers, and advertising on dodgy video file-sharing websites.
Currently, the UKGC is having a review into the UK operations of 1xBet. The UK gambling regulatory body has still not formally commended on the scope of the investigation.
Blackbet Website to Remain Shut for “the Foreseeable Future”
Currently, the website of the gambling technology provider blackbet.co.uk is not operating. The home page features a message explaining that the company had decided to suspend its gambling activities on the website “for the foreseeable future” due to regulatory purposes. The company’s website aimed at Nigerian customers remains operational for the time being.
The operator also posted an apology for the inconvenience and further informed visitors that money withdrawals were still possible for unsettled wagers. The message published on the home page of FSB Technology’s Blackbet-branded website says that customers would be given time until midnight on August 27th to withdraw their money. After this deadline all unsettle wagers will be made void.
The Blackbet brand started operation in late 2017 after a teaser campaign which was considered somehow controversial because the website promised to offer “ethnic sports betting”. The latter has not been defined before or after the launch of the blackbet.co.uk website.
According to reports from eGaming Revenue, the UK-facing operations of another white-label partner of FSB Technology, QuinnBet were also subject to suspension. Reportedly, the suspension was done following concerns over its source of funding.
- Author
Olivia Cole
