The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) will make changes to its Statement of Principles for determining financial penalties to provide greater clarity and transparency.
Following consultation, the UKGC will bolster its approach to calculating and imposing financial penalties on gambling companies that break the rules, with the changes coming into effect later this year on 10 October.
John Pierce, Director of Enforcement and Intelligence at the UKGC, stated: “We are making changes to strengthen the transparency and consistency of how we impose financial penalties.
“These proposals were subject to extensive consultation, and the views shared by all our stakeholders have been taken into account. The resulting changes will strengthen our decision-making and streamline the calculation of penalties – helping to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our enforcement work.”
A clear and distinct seven-step process will be outlined, which the Commission will follow when determining if a financial penalty needs to be imposed. Five levels of breach seriousness will be introduced as well, with the UKGC providing transparency on how it decides on the level of breach seriousness.
In addition, the starting point for the penal element of the penalty will be determined by linking the breach’s seriousness with a percentage of gross gambling yield or equivalent income generated during the breach timeframe. Adjustments will also be made to penalties for aggravating and mitigating factors, deterrence and early resolution.
“Crucially, the new approach also encourages compliance at the earliest opportunity, supporting the protection of consumers alongside fair and proportionate outcomes for operators,” Pierce added.
“Where fines are imposed on society lotteries, registered charities or personal licence holders these will not be based upon a percentage of the GGY accrued during the breach period, rather an appropriate alternative will be used.”
2025 fines
The UKGC has already been busy throughout the first six months of 2025 in handing out fines to licence holders who have broken their regulatory guidelines.
Greentube Alderney Limited was fined £1m for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures at the beginning of the year. Merkur Slots UK Limited was handed a £95,450 fine in February for social responsibility failures.
In March, three companies were handed fines. AG Communications, which trades as AspireGlobal, was ordered to pay £1.4m for social responsibility and AML failures. Corbett Bookmakers Limited was issued a £686,070 fine for social responsibility and AML failures. Football Pools Limited was ordered to pay £375,000 for social responsibility and AML failures.
Spreadex was issued a £2m fine for AML and social responsibility in May, while Taichi Tech Limited, which trades as Fafabet, was fined £170,000 earlier this month for regulatory failures, which included the use of unfair terms and conditions.
