Trio of operators shut down UK-facing verticals
Asia-focused firms SBOBet, 12Bet and Mansion close parts of their UK-facing businesses ahead of changes to UK licensing regime
SBOBet, 12Bet and Mansion are to close parts of their UK-facing businesses this month ahead of the UK’s new licensing regime, which comes into effect on 1 October.
All three operators have addressed customers this week informing them of the changes, requesting that they withdraw funds from accounts ahead of their respective closures.
With the 16 September UK licence application deadline fast approaching, off shore operators have been forced to review their UK-facing operations with the jurisdiction preparing to introduce a new costly regulatory regime and 15% profit tax.
SBOBet, one of Asia’s leading sportsbooks, emailed all of its UK-based customers this morning informing them of its decision to close all UK-based accounts, which it said had been taken due to the changing regulatory environment. Customers accounts will be shut from 15 September.
Meanwhile Isle of Man-based 12Bet said it will stop accepting sports bets from UK-based customers as of 30 September after a “business decision” taken by the firm’s management.
The Asian-focused firm will, however, continue to accept casino players as it prepares to apply for a UK casino licence, and 12Bet CEO Rory Anderson confirmed to eGaming Review this morning that the move would only affect sports betting customers in the UK.
“We look at every territory we operate in and every vertical we offer and we feel it is a sensible business decision to just concentrate and focus our energy on casino in the UK,” he said.
Moreover, Gibraltar licensee Mansion emailed its UK-based poker customers earlier this week to confirm it was to close its UK-facing poker business this month, however, its casino arm will remain operational after the company said it had updated its UK licence.
In the email, Mansion prompted its UK poker customers to sign up with fellow iPoker licensee Titanbet Poker, which earlier this week migrated its UK-based customers to a new Titanbet.co.uk site as part of plans to secure a UK licence.