Due to severe violations of anti-money laundering and compliance regulations, white label operator TGP Europe recently announced its withdrawal from the UK market, officially returning its gambling operation license. This decision was made after the UK Gambling Commission imposed a fine of 3.3 million pounds and required "significant improvements". The departure of TGP has triggered a chain reaction, with several Premier League clubs' shirt sponsorship agreements with its brands falling into uncertainty.
Multiple clubs involved: Bournemouth's shirt sponsorship deal may be blown
In recent years, TGP Europe has actively laid out the English football sponsorship market through its multiple brands, including establishing cooperation with Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle United, Wolves, and Burnley. In July 2023, its brand bj-88.co.uk just announced becoming the front shirt sponsor for Bournemouth club for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 Premier League seasons.
However, the Gambling Commission recently warned that these clubs currently face the risk of "promoting unlicensed gambling platforms", which could lead to penalties. The regulatory body has sent letters to all involved clubs, requiring them to prove that they have conducted sufficient due diligence on white label partners and ensure that UK users are not directed to platforms without legal authorization.
TGP involved in 29 gambling websites, regulatory hammer due to compliance loopholes
According to disclosures by the Gambling Commission, TGP Europe operates 29 gambling websites through the white label model, including Duelbits.co.uk, Betvision.com, Leyubet.co.uk, Fun88.co.uk, and Oubao.co.uk. The company is accused of not conducting sufficient reviews of third-party partners and their ownership structures, nor conducting necessary investigations into the sources of funds in business transactions, seriously violating UK anti-money laundering regulations.
The Commission pointed out that TGP "failed to adequately assess whether its cooperative entities were involved in illegal activities" and ignored potential money laundering risks. John Piers, the enforcement chief of the Commission, emphasized: "These websites operating under TGP's authorization no longer have the legal qualifications to operate, nor can they provide the necessary safety guarantees for UK consumers."
He called on the public to carefully verify the legality of the platforms they use to avoid continuing to bet on former TGP websites.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time TGP has been penalized. In 2023, TGP was fined 316,000 pounds for similar anti-money laundering and social responsibility issues and received an official warning.
White label sponsorship model questioned, policy level may welcome reform
The exit of TGP has once again triggered regulatory attention to the white label sponsorship mechanism. According to current regulations, non-UK licensed gambling operators can cooperate with white label companies holding UK licenses to promote brands and cooperate with sports clubs locally. However, this "legal channel" has been questioned in recent years, being accused of providing opportunities for gray operations.
The UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Gambling Commission are currently conducting an in-depth review of the white label model. Baroness Twycross, the Minister for Gambling Affairs, pointed out at the GambleAware annual conference in December 2023 that the mechanism "is undergoing formal investigation" and warned that stricter measures will be taken if necessary.
Her statement coincides with another gambling platform, BC Game, being judged as illegally operating in the UK and having its license revoked by the authorities in Curaçao. These events collectively reflect the increasingly strict global gambling regulatory trend, with white label operations facing a high-pressure regulatory era.
Gambling regulation becomes stricter, sports marketing faces reshaping
The exit of TGP Europe not only shakes the confidence of white label operators but also sounds an alarm for the UK sports marketing field. In top leagues like the Premier League, gambling brands have long been an important source of sponsorship, and the white label mechanism is precisely the "secret passage" for many overseas gambling brands to enter the British market.
However, as regulatory policies become stricter, similar cooperation methods may be difficult to continue. In the future, football clubs and marketing agents may need to re-examine their cooperation paths with gambling brands within a compliant framework.
