After being found to have failed to participate in the initiative while also failing to have a complaints and disputes process in place, Wyke Gaming & Amusement Centre in Bradford has had its operator licence suspended by the UKGC with immediate effect.
According to the UKGC, the venue failed to participate in a multi operator self-exclusion scheme that was put in place to allow problem gamblers to self-exclude from one or more venues in their area.
In addition to the failure to implement this self-exclusion scheme, Wyke Gaming & Amusement Centre was also found to have no arrangements in place for customers to be able to refer any dispute to an alternative dispute resolution entity.
To make matters worse for the Bradfordian adult gaming venue, the operator was not compliant with section 172(1) of the Gambling Act. This statute states that Category B gaming machines must not exceed 20% of the total number of gaming machines which are available for use on the premises.
Wyke Gaming & Amusement Centre’s suspension will remain in place until the Commission has been able to verify that the Licensee’s facilities are operating compliantly.
UKGC not letting up on enforcement actions
A series of incidents this year show that the UKGC is just as committed to enforcing compliance with UK betting laws and regulations as ever before. This comes against the backdrop of continuing political pressure on the sector, particularly around player protection.
In recent regulatory action taken by the UKGC, Spreadex Limited received a £2m penalty due to failings in anti-money laundering (AML) procedures and social responsibility safeguards.
The Commission’s investigation underscored a “breakdown in risk assessment” on the Spreadex.com platform, which was criticised for failing to consider core risk factors such as customer profiles, transaction methods and geographic exposure, as required under official AML guidance.
This was not the operator’s first reprimand with the regulator. In 2022, Spreadex paid a £1.36m settlement for similar AML and safer gambling failings.
