European company TGP confronts £3.3 million penalty due to Anti-Money Laundering violations, exits the UK market.
Football Clubs Warned Over Unlicensed Gambling Sites
Football clubs in the UK are facing potential reputational and regulatory risks following the withdrawal of TGP Europe from the UK market. In May 2025, TGP Europe surrendered its UK license due to anti-money laundering (AML) compliance failures, leading to a £3.3 million fine from the UK Gambling Commission (GC) [2][3][5].
John Pierce, Head of Enforcement at the Gambling Commission, has emphasized the importance of football clubs playing their part in protecting fans and GB consumers from advertising of unlicensed sites. He has warned that any club continuing to promote unlicensed operators could face prosecution [4].
The GC has reached out to the involved football clubs, emphasizing the potential for prosecution. They have also cautioned that licensed operators with similar arrangements to TGP should reevaluate their risk controls and affiliate practices [4].
The GC has raised concerns over geo-blocking, noting that VPNs may allow users to bypass restrictions. In response, they will be carrying out checks on sites to ensure they remain blocked [1].
The implications for these clubs include regulatory scrutiny and warnings, reputational damage, commercial uncertainty, and pressure to strengthen compliance and due diligence processes. With TGP Europe leaving the UK market, clubs may face contractual disruptions or the need to seek new sponsors, affecting financial planning and commercial stability [1][5].
Clubs are advised to review their sponsorship arrangements for financial transparency. The GC has warned that it will take action against any company that fails to meet regulatory standards [4].
In light of these developments, football clubs connected to TGP Europe gambling sites need to carefully reassess their sponsorship agreements to mitigate regulatory risks, protect their reputations, and maintain compliance with evolving UK gambling laws following TGP Europe's market exit and licensing penalties [2][3][5].
References:
- The Guardian
- Sky Sports
- BBC Sport
- The Times
- The Independent
- The finance sector, particularly fintech companies, should be wary of associating with unlicensed gambling sites, as seen with TGP Europe, to avoid potential general-news and crime-and-justice implications.
- As the Premier League clubs grapple with the withdrawal of TGP Europe, they must prioritize scrutiny of their sponsorship arrangements in sports, football, and European leagues, given the need for financial transparency and compliance with UK gambling laws.
- With TGP Europe leaving the UK market due to AML compliance failures and hefty fines, other fintech companies should reevaluate their risk controls and affiliate practices in all industries to ensure they meet regulatory standards.
- TheGC's stance on geo-blocking and VPNs serves as a reminder for all industries, including finance, to focus on ensuring that their websites remain compliant and blocked to prevent access by minors or users in regions where gambling is prohibited, thus mitigating potential crime-and-justice risks.
