TGP Europe has surrendered its UK gambling licence and exited the British igaming market after the Gambling Commission concluded a regulatory investigation into the company’s operations.
The Commission’s inquiry revealed that TGP Europe, which operated under a white-label model, had failed to conduct sufficient due diligence on its business partners and breached anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. The investigation determined that the company would need to pay a £3.3 million penalty and implement significant operational improvements to continue trading in Great Britain. TGP opted instead to withdraw from the market.
The white-label business structure employed by TGP involved operating gambling websites using the branding of third-party entities. According to the Commission, TGP failed to adequately assess the ownership and source of funds of its third-party partners, and did not sufficiently evaluate the associated money laundering risks or legality of their activities in relevant jurisdictions.
Further, AML breaches cited include the ineffective implementation of enhanced due diligence procedures outlined in the company’s own policies, particularly around information provided by third parties.
This is the second time TGP Europe has faced enforcement action. In 2023, the operator was fined £316,250 for similar regulatory shortcomings related to AML procedures and due diligence failures in white-label agreements.
Following TGP’s market withdrawal, the Commission contacted five Premier League and Championship football clubs — AFC Bournemouth, Fulham FC, Newcastle United FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, and Burnley FC — who had existing sponsorship deals with TGP-linked brands. The regulator warned of the risks involved in promoting gambling operators no longer licensed in Great Britain and requested evidence that the clubs had taken appropriate steps to ensure their partners were geo-blocking British consumers.
The Commission also advised that club executives may face prosecution if they are found to be promoting unlicensed gambling services that remain accessible to UK players, even if inadvertently.
Consumers are reminded that they can verify an operator’s licence status via the Gambling Commission’s online register. Operators exiting the UK market are expected to manage the closure of their websites in an orderly manner, including providing customers with clear instructions on how to access any remaining funds.
John Pierce, Commission Head of Enforcement, said: “This case involves a gambling company that was unwilling or unable to meet the regulatory standards we expect from our licensees. It is right that they have now exited the British market.
“Following TGP’s exit, several online gambling operators can no longer lawfully offer gambling facilities to consumers located in Great Britain. These sites, previously operating under TGP’s licence, may not provide adequate protection against criminal activity or gambling-related harm and should not be available to GB consumers with immediate effect.”
He continued: “We have already been in contact with several football clubs today to highlight the impact of the withdrawal from the market by TGP and make clear that we will be carrying out checks without further notice to ensure these sites remain blocked. We will also conduct ongoing spot checks as necessary to ensure they are not accessible to consumers in Great Britain by any means. Should any of these sites be available to GB consumers, we will take appropriate action.
“It is essential that football clubs play their part in protecting fans and GB consumers who may be exposed to advertising of these sites through their sponsorship arrangements from harm or exploitation. All licensed operators with similar arrangements to TGP should take notice of the action taken in this case.
“We would like to warn consumers that sites operated by TGP are now unlicensed and may not provide protections against criminality or gambling-related harm.”
