Stake’s UK-facing brand will cease operations next month following regulatory action by the Gambling Commission, the regulator has announced.

TGP Europe Limited, which operates Stake.uk.com under a white-label agreement, decided to shut down the platform after an investigation by the Commission.

The probe was launched after a widely circulated social media video showed the Stake-branded logo alongside an “adult film actress” outside Nottingham Trent University, the regulator said.

TGP, which has previously faced enforcement action in the UK, confirmed after meeting with the Commission that it would immediately halt new registrations on Stake.uk.com and remove redirection links from the main Stake website.

In 2023, the UKGC fined TGP Europe £316,250 for anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility failures.

The complete shutdown of Stake.uk.com for consumers in Great Britain is scheduled for 11 March.

Meanwhile, a Stake spokesperson told NEXT.io:

“Stake has made a strategic decision in mutual agreement with TGP Europe to exit white-label agreements and focus on securing local licences through our in-house platform and operations, building upon our growth in key regulated markets such as our recent expansions into Italy and Brazil.”

UKGC warns other football clubs

Stake is currently the front-of-shirt sponsor for Premier League club Everton.

The UKGC announced that it would write to Everton and two other football clubs with unlicensed sponsors, warning them about the risks of promoting unlawful gambling websites.

The regulator confirmed to NEXT.io that the clubs in question are Nottingham Forest FC, backed by Kaiyun, and Leicester City FC, sponsored by BC.Game.

The Commission will seek assurances from these clubs that they have conducted due diligence on their white-label partners and that British consumers cannot access unlicensed sites.

The regulator also stressed the need for effective geo-blocking measures, noting that such restrictions can sometimes be bypassed using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

“The letter will warn that club officers may be liable to prosecution and, if convicted, could face a fine, imprisonment, or both if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain,” the UKGC stated.

The regulator also emphasised that operators exiting the UK market must ensure an orderly closure.

This includes providing clear guidance to consumers on how to withdraw their funds. Customers with account-related inquiries are advised to contact the operator directly via its website.

White-label sponsorship deals under scrutiny

The regulatory spotlight on white-label partnerships intensified last year when Leicester City shirt sponsor BC.Game shut down its UK site amid a regulatory battle involving its Curaçao-licensed crypto casino.

The company had also operated in the UK via a white-label agreement with TGP Europe, which enabled it to secure a two-year sponsorship deal with Leicester City FC under UK advertising rules.

Following the BC.Game controversy, gambling minister Baroness Twycross warned that further action could be taken against white-label sponsorship arrangements.

Baroness Twycross stated: “I am engaging with the Gambling Commission and industry to gather further evidence of their prevalence and impact. If further action is needed, we will take it.”

Historically, white-label deals have allowed offshore gambling operators to partner with licensed entities such as TGP Europe to create branded gambling sites.

Under UK law, these brands can then sign sponsorship agreements with British sports teams. However, increasing regulatory scrutiny may put the future of such arrangements at risk.

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