MaxEnt drops UKGC appeal amid UK exit
Operator to target European markets following “promising developments” in emerging jurisdictions
Online casino operator MaxEnt is to discontinue its appeal against a Gambling Commission decision to strip its UK licence, exiting the UK market entirely.
Citing the “practical certainty” of Brexit following December’s general election, the operator confirmed it would disallow any registrations from UK citizens with immediate effect.
Speaking about the firm’s exit from the UK, MaxEnt CEO Greg Bennett said the operator had taken the decision with a “heavy heart”.
“We’ve been watching the market for some time, and the looming threat of Brexit has been a source of concern for us. Now that the Conservative Party have won and can push it through, we feel that we are better focusing on well-regulated European markets,” Bennett added.
The operator said it did not rule out a potential return to the UK market in the future post-Brexit, yet cited “promising developments” and opportunities in European markets as requiring more immediate attention.
MaxEnt has confirmed the launch of a new so-called Pay’n’Play brand, GoSlotty, which will launch in January initially in Germany and Finland.
The new brand will also be released in Sweden, pending the awarding of a licence by the Swedish Gambling Authority. MaxEnt has also said it is looking to obtain a licence in the Dutch market when it opens in 2021.
MaxEnt, which operates the Slotty Vegas and BetAtCasino sites, was stripped of its UK licence by the UKGC in June 2019 following reported “concerns” about its new owner’s suitability for a UK licence.
Later in June, the company launched an appeal against the decision, branding the UKGC’s comments as “misleading”. EGR understands this appeal has now been automatically discontinued as a result of the operator’s exit from the UK.
Speaking about the discontinuance of the appeal, Bennett said it was a “shame” that the firm did not have the opportunity to present its case.
As part of the closure, the UK-facing MaxEnt site will remain open for a short period to allow existing account holders to withdraw funds from their accounts.
At the end of this period, any remaining individuals who have money in their accounts will be required to contact the operator’s customer services department.