Online casino services provider Stake is leaving Great Britain and will suspend its services indefinitely. According to an official release from the UK’s Gambling Commission, TGP Europe Limited (TGP), the parent company operating the site, will shut it down.
The decision to permanently suspend Stake follows an investigation initiated by the Commission after a video with an adult actress outside Nottingham Trent University circulated on social media. The video carried the Stake logo.
TGP Agrees with Gambling Commission to Shut Down Stake
Online gambling is legal in the UK and open to interested gamblers. Players can visit sites run by gambling operators to play or use Telegram-based platforms to enjoy exciting perks, including welcome bonuses and rakebacks, in addition to a wide range of payment options.
Players go to domestic platforms for certain features or search for different options on international platforms. Understanding UK gambling restrictions with Techopedia shows that a growing number of players prefer international options as overseas, non-Gamstop, casinos offer a unique gaming experience outside UK self-exclusion, featuring high stakes and cryptocurrency options.
Following the incident explained in the introduction, TGP had a meeting with the Gambling Commission and stated that they would no longer accept new users to Stake.uk.com. TGP also indicated that it would remove any redirection links from the parent website. The Stake.uk.com site will permanently close down on 11 March 2025.
Stake’s Controversial Operations in the UK
The issue is not the first between TGP and the Gambling Commission. In 2023, TGP received a £316,250 fine from the Commission for several failures, including some related to weak anti-money laundering (AML) measures. In a news release, the Commission noted that TGP did not conduct a money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment to address certain risks.
Also, TGP did not properly consider and mitigate money laundering risks posed by the company’s relationship with other businesses. Furthermore, the Gambling Commission says the company’s policies in relation to due diligence were ineffective.
Stake entered the UK market via a white-label arrangement with TGP. This allowed Stake to operate under TGP’s gambling license and cater to British customers without needing a separate license. According to reports, TGP managed operations while Stake remained focused on branding and marketing. A spokesperson for Stake has confirmed that the platform now plans to secure local licenses and build in regulated markets.
Stake and Everton
Stake currently sponsors English Premier League Football Club Everton. Interestingly, Everton previously asked Stake not to use its imagery in an offer that gave a free $10 bet to any user who wagers $5,000 in one week. Everton’s decision was in response to fans and various campaign groups criticizing the marketing style and scrutinizing the club’s involvement. Although Stake’s promo was not open to customers with UK internet addresses, the offer was visible nonetheless.
Stake has also had previous trouble regarding concerns about British customers being able to bet with cryptocurrency even though the service is outlawed in Great Britain. An Observer investigation found that even though Stake’s UK site did not offer crypto betting, customers in the UK could easily use virtual private networks (VPNs) to bet with crypto.
Gambling Commissions Warns UK Clubs About Gambling Partnerships
Reportedly, the Gambling Commission has now decided to reach out to Everton and two other football clubs, all of which have unlicensed sponsors. The Commission will warn them about the risk of their partnership with these illegal platforms and ask them to confirm they conducted due diligence on their white-label partners. The UK supports online gambling but is cracking down on malpractices in the sector.
Furthermore, the Commission warned that its letter to the club would include the possibility of prosecution if any violations occur:
“The letter will warn that club officers may be liable to prosecution and, if convicted, face a fine, imprisonment or both if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain.”
For now, Everton will leave the Stake logo on their shirts as the gambling service provider is their main shirt sponsor. However, the Premier League will not allow gambling companies as their main shirt sponsors from the end of the 2025/2026 season.
