Gambling Commission suspends two licences

The Gambling Commission has suspended the licences of Spribe OÜ and VGC Leeds Limited, citing serious compliance failures and regulatory breaches. 

The UK Gambling Commission has suspended the operating licences of two gambling entities—Spribe OÜ and VGC Leeds Limited—following separate investigations that uncovered serious regulatory violations.

Spribe OÜ, a Poland-headquartered casino games developer known for its popular crash game Aviator, was found to be hosting games without the appropriate licence. Although Spribe held a Gambling Software licence since December 2020, the Commission determined that its UK licence did not cover hosting activities. Hosting games on behalf of partner operators without a valid hosting licence constitutes a breach of Section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005, which prohibits unlicensed gambling facilities in Great Britain.

The Commission emphasized that Spribe must cease all hosting activity immediately and cannot resume until a suitable licence is obtained. While Spribe is licensed in multiple jurisdictions including Malta, Gibraltar, and Ontario, the UK regulator’s action signals a broader crackdown on B2B compliance, not just consumer-facing platforms.

VGC Leeds Limited, operator of the Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds, faces suspension over serious anti-money laundering (AML) failures.  A recent compliance assessment revealed that the casino failed to maintain effective AML policies, procedures, and controls. The Commission also flagged concerns about the adequacy of decision-making processes and the casino’s response to counter-terrorist financing risks.

The suspension affects VGC Leeds’ remote and land-based casino licences, as well as its bingo licence. The regulator stated that these failings pose a “serious threat to the licensing objectives, in particular keeping crime out of gambling.” The licence will remain suspended while a full review is conducted to determine the operator’s suitability to continue licensed activities.

This is not the first time VGC Leeds has faced regulatory action. In 2021, the operator paid a £450,000 settlement for previous AML and social responsibility breaches.