The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has formally announced that BGO Entertainment has surrendered its online gambling licence, choosing to forgo an investigation of its operations.
On 15 October, the Commission enforced the immediate suspension of BGO, under Section 118 of the UK Gambling Act, which permits the regulator to suspend a licence should it deem that “activities have been carried on in a manner which is inconsistent with the licensing objectives”.
The Commission chose not to disclose any information related to BGO’s suspension, ordering the online gambling group to immediately terminate its gambling services for its UK portfolio of BGO.com, PowerSpins.com, VegasLuck.com and Chilli.com.
A month following its suspension, BGO management confirmed that it would be exiting the UK gambling sector citing that disproportionate fines had been issued against its business.
Industry news source iGamingBusiness had reported that BGO had “put its player database up for sale following last month’s suspension of its licence by the UKGC”.
Responding to developments, the Commission has alerted the government’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to investigate BGO’s intended sale of its UK player database.
An investigative body of DCMS, the ICO will examine whether BGO’s intended sale breaches the UK’s existing data laws protecting consumers.
“Ensuring compliance with the requirements under GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 rests primarily with the ICO. We are aware that this sale has been brought to the attention of the ICO for their consideration,” The Commission informed SBC News.
Operating since 2012, BGO’s network is reported to have garnered a customer base of +2 million players, achieving an NGR of £300 million as reported by iGamingBusiness.
During 2020 BGO was forced to pay a £2 million regulatory settlement, as its licence was imposed with new restrictions, following a UKGC judgement that deemed the business to have failed to address systemic AML issues and customer care of duty concerns.