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The UK Gambling Commission has suspended LEBOM Limited from transacting with consumers for not being integrated into the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme.
LEBOM, which only received its licence in November 2020, has been told by the regulator that it is expected to treat consumers fairly and keep them fully informed of any developments which affect them during the suspension.
“The suspension does not prevent the operator from allowing consumers to access accounts and withdrawing funds,” the Gambling Commission said in its announcement on Thursday (November 3).
Consumers have been told they can contact LEBOM by signing into the operator’s app.
The regulator has also launched a review of the operator’s licence.
A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission said it will not be making further comment on the case until the review is completed.
Following a review, the commission may decide to take no further action, give the licensee advice as to conduct, or take enforcement action that could include a financial penalty or even a revoked licence, according to the licensing, compliance and enforcement rules set out in the Gambling Act.
Kay Roberts, executive director of operations at the Gambling Commission, said: “GAMSTOP provides a crucial service for people who feel they are suffering gambling harm. It is simply unacceptable for any online operator to fail to integrate with the scheme.”
The suspension went into effect “immediately” and will not be lifted until the Gambling Commission is satisfied that the operator has fully integrated GAMSTOP.
Online operators have been required as a licence condition to offer GAMSTOP’s online self-exclusion service to customers since March 31, 2020.
Customers that use GAMSTOP are then able to exclude from gambling with all online gambling companies licensed in Great Britain for a period of six months, one year or five years.
Several other countries in Europe also require operators to be integrated into their self-exclusion schemes, such as Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany.
