Online gambling turnkey provider Rival Gaming has departed the UK market, according to communications from licensees to players and affiliates, who have been advised that all UK action is blocked from July 25.
Although no official reason for the exit has been given, Rival is active in several parts of the world, and it has been speculated that the comprehensive new UK licensing regulations applicable to software suppliers may be too difficult to comply with at this point.
Licensing involves certain mandatory operational disclosures, and compliance may make some companies uncomfortable.
In its recent annual report the UK Gambling Commission noted that since the new regulations came into effect there has been little evidence of black market activity, and it is clear that a good number of operators have discontinued UK operations rather than contravene the regulations and risk more difficult operational activity and possibly enforcement actions.