The suspension of online operator BGO Entertainment’s license by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission (UKGC) has dominated online Bingo Canada news headlines this week. According to reports, the operator’s license has been suspended with immediate effect.
According to a statement released by the regulator on the matter, BGO’s failure to protect its customers in a proper manner was the primary cause for the suspension. This week, the commission stated that it was made plain to the operator that it remains liable to its customers during the suspension period. According to the primary regulator, the operator is responsible for the fair and informed treatment of customers.
Unfortunately, the most recent suspension is not the operator’s first. It was suspended a year ago after committing a series of errors, the most significant of which was failing to monitor its online Bingo Canada players for symptoms of problem- and irresponsible gambling. The UK Gambling Commission fined BGO a staggering £2 million this time around. It was also required to take additional restrictions on its operating license. One of these restrictions was a prerequisite for conducting due diligence investigations on its top 250 customers.
As a consequence of a detected failure in systemic operations related to anti-money laundering controls, the fine was imposed. Reportedly, these and numerous other failures occurred between September 2018 and March 2020.
BGO Responds
This week, the operator posted a formal notice on its website regarding the UKCG suspension. The notice informs players of the suspension and confirms that BGO is collaborating with the Gambling Commission to swiftly resolve the situation.
BGO support agents can be reached through any of the brand’s online Bingo Canada sites, including BGO, Vegas Luck, Chilli, and Power Spins. Users can still access their accounts and withdraw their winnings at this time. All other services provided by the website are currently inaccessible.
Strict Conformity Required
The latest BGO suspension follows a number of concerns expressed regarding activities that may have violated the 2005 Gambling Act of the United Kingdom. The regulator added that BGO Entertainment may in fact be unfit to conduct licensed gambling operations in the country.
According to Section 118(2) of the wagering Act, the Commission may conduct a comprehensive review of all wagering operations if an operator is deemed to have conducted activities in reliance on a license but in violation of its terms.