1xBet Response to 2019 UK Advertising Allegations
On 13 August 2019, iGaming Business published 1xBet's reply to claims about advertising on prohibited sites. The operator said third-party partners placed those advertisements without its knowledge or consent.
What 1xBet Told the Outlet
The company rejected the claims of irresponsible behaviour and pointed to outside partners. It said those partners acted without its prior knowledge or consent, according to iGaming Business. A spokesperson said the operator had launched an immediate internal investigation to improve its monitoring.
The spokesperson also said 1xBet had retained an additional team of specialists. That team includes UK gaming and gambling consultants who advise the company on matters relating to the UK market. The operator said it was committed to responsible gambling and to following regulations in the markets where it operates.
UK Market Steps Announced by 1xBet
1xBet said it would cooperate fully with the Gambling Commission during its enquiries. At the time, the company said it was seeking a full UK operating licence and described that application as on track. It also said it remained committed to the UK market.
According to iGaming Business, the Gambling Commission said there were ongoing enquiries into 1xBet and its relationship with FSB. The regulator did not share further details about the case. FSB held the Gambling Commission licence under which 1xBet operated, and the article reported no suggestion that FSB was at fault.
Website Status in August 2019
The article reported that the UK-facing website was offline in August 2019. It displayed a holding page telling players the site was currently unavailable. The operator was licensed in Curaçao and operated under a platform provider's Gambling Commission licence.
Football Sponsorship Deals
iGaming Business reported that 1xBet signed several high-profile sponsorship deals during football's close season. The agreements included English Premier League clubs Chelsea and Liverpool, plus a deal with Tottenham Hotspur. The outlet said it had contacted all three clubs for comment on their position regarding the deals.
Timeline of the Reported Events
| When | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Before August 2019 | A UK broadsheet, the Sunday Times, levelled allegations at the operator, including promoting its brands on prohibited sites. |
| 13 August 2019 | iGaming Business quoted 1xBet's response to the allegations. |
| August 2019 | The UK-facing website was offline and showed an unavailable holding page. |
Positions of the Parties
| Party | Position as reported |
|---|---|
| 1xBet | Said third-party partners placed the ads without its knowledge or consent; launched an internal investigation; hired a specialist consultancy team; said it would cooperate with the regulator and was seeking a full UK licence. |
| Gambling Commission | Said there were ongoing enquiries into 1xBet and its relationship with FSB, without giving further case details. |
| FSB | Held the Gambling Commission licence under which 1xBet operated; the article reported no suggestion that the service provider was at fault. |
Claims and Attributions at a Glance
| Statement | Attributed to |
|---|---|
| Third-party partners placed the advertisements without knowledge or consent. | 1xBet |
| An internal investigation was launched to improve monitoring. | 1xBet |
| An additional specialist consultancy team was hired for the UK market. | 1xBet |
| There were ongoing enquiries into 1xBet and its relationship with FSB. | Gambling Commission, quoted by iGaming Business |
| The UK-facing website was offline with a holding page. | iGaming Business |
- The Sunday Times published allegations against the operator, including promotion on prohibited sites.
- 1xBet told iGaming Business that third-party partners were to blame for the ads appearing on those sites.
- The operator said it had launched an immediate internal investigation to improve monitoring.
- The company said it had retained an additional specialist team, including UK gaming and gambling consultants.
Source: iGaming Business.