TGP Europe quits UK market after £3m fine
TGP Europe, the gambling company behind five Premier League sponsors, has withdrawn from the UK market after receiving a £3m fine from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
The fine was issued for failures in anti-money laundering (AML) procedures and insufficient checks on business partners.
The gambling brands involved in sponsorships with Premier League clubs were BJ88 (AFC Bournemouth), SBOTOP (Fulham), Sportsbet.io and Fun88 (Newcastle United), Debet (Wolves), and 96.com (Burnley).
The UKGC has contacted Newcastle United, Fulham, Wolves, Burnley, and AFC Bournemouth, asking them to provide proof of due diligence conducted before entering these sponsorship agreements. Clubs unable to demonstrate sufficient checks could face fines, and responsible officials could face imprisonment.
Clubs have been instructed to perform due diligence on their white-label partners to ensure UK users cannot access these sites, even through VPN technology that might bypass geo-blocking. Clubs who continue advertising these websites could face prosecution.
The regulatory body has taken action following the withdrawal of white label gambling operator TGP Europe from the British market.
The UKGC has also confirmed it will be checking that the sites associated with TGP Europe remain blocked to GB consumers and will conduct ongoing spot checks.
The move comes as the UKGC continues to focus on offshore sportsbooks operating in the UK. Another offshore operator, Stake, which sponsors Everton FC, previously exited the UK market following an advertising investigation, although Everton continues to feature the brand on their shirts.
From the 2026-27 season, Premier League clubs have agreed to stop featuring betting brands on the front of their shirts. While shirt-front sponsorship will end, clubs will still be permitted to display betting brands on shirt sleeves and pitch-side digital advertising boards.
Premier League clubs have generated approximately £500m from all gambling sponsorship deals over the past five seasons, with the annual value averaging around £100m per season. The current value of front-of-shirt sponsor deals alone is estimated at around £60m per year, and their removal could significantly impact some of the league’s smaller clubs.
John Pierce, Head of Enforcement at the UK Gambling Commission, said, “This case involves a gambling company that was unwilling or unable to meet the regulatory standards we expect from our licensees. The fine was for failing to carry out sufficient checks on business partners and breaching anti-money laundering rules.
“It is essential that football clubs play their part in protecting fans and GB consumers who may be exposed to advertising of these sites through their sponsorship arrangements from harm or exploitation.”
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