Gameaccount UK licence suspended

The UK Gambling Commission has commenced a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 and, under section 118 of the Act, has decided to suspend that part of Operating Licence number 000-002604-R-104107-004  issued to Gameaccount Global Limited relating to remote casino activity, whilst the review takes place.

The suspension is an interim measure, the need for which will be kept under consideration during the review.

The Commission will make no further comment until the review is complete.

GameAccount Global Limited is a mainly skill games operator that has online (remote) gambling interests in the CasinoRip.com online blackjack site.

According to section 120 of the Gambling Act of 2005, the Gambling Commission may suspend or revoke an operator’s licence if ‘a licensed activity is being or has been carried on in a manner that is inconsistent with the licensing objectives’. In addition, a licence may be delayed or withdrawn if ‘a condition of the licence has been breached’ or if the licensee has ‘failed to cooperate with a review under section 116’ or is ‘unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities’.

Suspension may also be invoked if a ‘licensee has failed to comply with a requirement of regulations under section 101’ or ‘has failed to submit the licence to the Commission for amendment in accordance with section 105’.

Finally, section 120 of the Gambling Act contains a provision when considering a licensee’s suitability that gives the Gambling Commission regard to ‘the integrity of the licensee or of any person who exercises a function in connection with or is interested in the licensed activities’. The body may also consider ‘the competence of the licensee or of any person who exercises a function in connection with the licensed activities to carry on the licensed activities in a manner consistent with pursuit of the licensing objectives’ along with the ‘financial and other circumstances of the licensee or of any person who exercises a function in connection with or is interested in the licensed activities and, in particular, the resources available for the purpose of carrying on the licensed activities’.

It is not known whether the GameAccount suspension has anything to do with an Advertising Standards Association finding recently (see previous InfoPowa report) that a GameAccount advertisement was deliberately misleading in implying greater rewards with less risk at its site than other online casinos.