Metroplay-666Bet UK licence suspended
News on 21 Mar 2015
News on 21 Mar 2015
Industry observers were speculating Friday on the possible licence infractions behind the UK Gambling Commission‘s announcement that it had suspended its licensing for Metroplay Limited, trading as 666Bet.
In a statement issued Friday, the Commission advised:
“The Gambling Commission has commenced a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) and, under section 118 of the Act, has decided to suspend Operating Licence No 000-039112-R-319435-001 (Metro Play Limited) while that review takes place.
“The Commission has decided to commence a review because it suspects that Metro Play Limited (the Licensee) is unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities (section 120(1)(d) of the Act) and considers it appropriate to suspend the licence with immediate effect pending the conclusion of the review.
“In accordance with section 118(4)(c) of the Act the Licensee is authorised to settle any outstanding winning bets that it has accepted in reliance on the above operating licence and return any outstanding balances to customers.
“The suspension is an interim measure, the need for which will be kept under consideration whilst the review takes place.”
On Saturday morning both websites were down “for maintenance”.
Last September 666Bet acquired Metro Play from DMG Media and transferred its sports betting operation from Novigroup to the EveryMatrix platform, which powers the Metro Play site .
On making the acquisition, the Isle of Man-based 666Bet revealed that it would keep the MetroPlay branding, although the staff would not be needed.
666Bet made an almost meteoric rise in the industry after launching in June 2014, hitting the media headlines with a series of high profile football sponsorships and management statements voicing big ambitions regarding expansion and acquisitions.
