Record fine for 888 as it fails at-risk gamblers

ONE of the UK’S biggest gambling companies, 888, has been fined a record £7.8m for allowing 7,000 vulnerable customers who had taken a “time out” to continue playing.

An investigation by the Gambling Commission found that a “technical failure” in 888’s systems allowed players who had “self-excluded” from the company’s casino, poker and sport games to continue to access their accounts on the bingo platform.

The oversight continued for 13 months, allowing those customers to deposit up to £3.5m in their accounts.

“While 888 did have self-exclusion procedures in place, they were not robust enough and failed to protect potentially vulnerable customers,” the commission said.

The firm also failed to “recognise visible signs of problem gambling behaviour”

‘This penalty of just under £8m reflects the seriousness of 888’s failings to protect vulnerable customers’

in one individual, who staked £1.3m in bets over the course of 13 months. At least £55,000 of this money had been stolen from the player’s employer, the commission found. Of the £7.8m penalty, £4.25m will go towards helping gambling addiction. The rest will go to the customers affected.

Sarah Harrison, chief executive at the Gambling Commission, said: “Safeguarding consumers is not optional. This penalty of just under £8m reflects the seriousness of 888’s failings to protect vulnerable customers.”

888 said: “The company accepts the conclusion of the review and is committed to providing players with a responsible as well as enjoyable gaming experience.”

Marc Etches, chief executive of Gamble Aware, said it sent a “clear message to the industry they need to do more to protect people from harm online”.

Investors were less perturbed, sending the shares up 4pc to 263p with broker Peel Hunt saying that the regulatory risks surrounding 888 were “below average” for investors or potential acquirers.