The UK Gambling Commission has fined Paddy Power Betfair £2m ($2.6m) due to issues with its social responsibility policies. The company’s TSE Malta LP, Betfair Casino Ltd, PPB Customer Services Ltd, and PPB Entertainment Ltd will share the settlement costs. The regulator’s announcement on Wednesday morning focuses on the company’s customer interactions.
In one specific case, a gambler bet £86,000 ($114,635) in 16 days without being subject to a manual account review, despite the high velocity of spending. The UKGC deemed Paddy Power Betfair’s systems to be insufficiently sensitive to identify indicators of harm correctly. Another online gambling customer was able to deposit £12,000 ($15,995) across 15 days before triggering a review.
issues were spotted during a 2024 compliance assessment
UKGC Director of Enforcement John Pierce said that the £2m ($2.3m) settlement shows the seriousness of the breaches. He explained the issues were spotted during a 2024 compliance assessment and that the “failings should never have occurred.” He said that the company was fully cooperative with the probe and quickly made changes, although that’s “the minimum” the regulator expects.
Pierce went on to say that operators shouldn’t rely on automation for spotting clear indicators of harm.
This isn’t Paddy Power Betfair’s first time in hot water with the UKGC. It paid a £490,000 ($653,154) fine in 2023 after being caught sending promotions to self-excluded customers.
