BGO Suspended for ‘failing to protect customers’

The United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) issued a press release today announcing the suspension of online operator BGO Entertainment’s remote gaming licence.

The Gambling Commission has suspended BGO Entertainment Limited’s operating licence (operating licence no 039533-R-319369-021) while it conducts a review under Section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005. (the Act).

The review and subsequent suspension are the result of concerns that activities may have been carried out in violation of the Act, not in accordance with the terms of their licence, and that the Licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licenced activities. Failure to protect consumers was a major factor in the suspension decision.

The Commission has decided to suspend the above operating licence in accordance with Section 118 (2) of the Act (opens in a new tab).

“We have made it clear to the operator that we expect it to focus on treating customers fairly and keeping them fully informed of any developments that affect them during the suspension” said the UKGC in their statement.

The suspension does not prevent the operator from allowing customers to access and withdraw funds from their accounts. BGO Entertainment Limited, which operates the websites bgo.com, m.bgo.com, powerspins.com, vegasluck.com, and chilli.com, can be reached via their respective websites.

The suspension is effective immediately.

Today’s announcement builds on the restrictions imposed on BGO by the regulator last year. The 2019 investigation discovered that BGO failed to implement effective policies and procedures for customers exhibiting signs of problem gambling between September 25, 2018 and March 23, 2020. This included players wagering six-figure sums without BGO intervening. identifying flaws in its corporate social responsibility and anti-money laundering (AML) controls. As a result of that ruling, BGO agreed to pay a £2 million settlement and to implement enhanced due diligence measures for its top 125 largest depositing customers and top 125 customers by losses who were not already on the first list.