Platinum Gaming Limited, the operator of popular UK gambling websites like unibet.co.uk and uk.bingo.com, has been hit with a £10 million penalty by the UK Gambling Commission. This fine comes after a thorough investigation uncovered a series of serious failings in both the company’s anti-money laundering (AML) controls and its social responsibility procedures. The Commission’s findings have highlighted significant shortcomings in the company’s ability to properly monitor and protect its customers, particularly those at risk of gambling harm.

Failings in Customer Protection Systems

Among the most concerning issues identified by the Gambling Commission were the company’s failures to recognize and act on at-risk players. One customer, who registered on the platform, lost £5,000 within just 24 hours and went on to lose over £16,000 in less than three months. Despite these significant losses, Platinum Gaming’s customer interaction system did not flag the individual as being at risk of harm. In another case, a player who lost more than £31,000 over a nine-month period, breached their monthly loss limit on multiple occasions, and demonstrated signs of high-velocity gambling, was not contacted or intervened with by the company. These cases exemplify the failure of the operator to act on clear markers of gambling harm.

The company also failed to engage with a customer who lost £73,000 over a 23-day period, with a net loss of £4,100, further highlighting systemic problems with customer monitoring and support. Despite these serious issues, the company did not take appropriate action to prevent continued gambling from these individuals.

Alongside these social responsibility issues, the investigation also uncovered a number of failings in Platinum Gaming’s anti-money laundering practices. One major issue was the company’s lack of consideration for customers who had previously had their accounts blocked due to concerns over money laundering or terrorist financing. Despite having accounts flagged for such issues, some customers were still able to open new accounts and continue gambling.

The company’s AML risk assessment was found to be inadequate, failing to address high-risk factors such as large transactions, suspicious occupations, or high levels of gambling losses. Moreover, Platinum Gaming’s AML policy lacked clarity on how due diligence measures should be applied and failed to clearly define the thresholds for enhanced customer due diligence.

Repeated Failures and Previous Penalties

This is not the first time Platinum Gaming has faced regulatory action. In 2023, the company was fined £2.9 million for similar failings in its AML and counter-terrorist financing practices. The fact that these issues have not been adequately addressed, despite previous enforcement action, led to further concerns about the company’s commitment to compliance.

John Pierce, the Gambling Commission’s Director of Enforcement, expressed disappointment with the operator’s continued failures, stating in a press release, “While industry-wide progress has been made in reducing unchecked high spending, the failings at Platinum Gaming are particularly disappointing. The case revealed serious shortcomings in customer interaction systems, including failures to identify and act on clear markers of harm.”

In addition to the £10 million financial penalty, Platinum Gaming has been ordered to undergo an independent audit and internal investigation. The company is also required to provide regular updates to the Gambling Commission on the progress of these measures. This audit is intended to drive meaningful change within the company, reinforce accountability, and embed a culture of compliance across the organization.

The Gambling Commission emphasized that these actions are aimed at preventing similar failures in the future and ensuring that senior leaders within the company take full ownership of compliance outcomes. “Senior leaders must take ownership of compliance outcomes and ensure lessons are embedded across the organization, supported by structured reporting and board-level oversight,” Pierce added.