UKGC Cites Law Enforcement to Hide Owner Info
Regulator refuses to confirm or deny holding records on the ultimate owners of white-label brands 8XBet and 6686.
The UK Gambling Commission has cited a law enforcement exemption to refuse to confirm or deny if it holds records on the ultimate owners of TGP Europe white-label partners 8XBet and 6686. The decision raises questions about transparency and regulatory oversight of the white-label market.
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UKGC Invokes Law Enforcement Exemption in Transparency Request
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has refused to confirm or deny whether it holds information on the ultimate owners of two white-label gambling brands, 8XBet and 6686. In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request dated 6 November 2023, the regulator cited a law enforcement exemption, a move that raises questions about transparency in the UK's white-label licensing system.
Both 8XBet and 6686 operate in the UK market under the licence of TGP Europe Ltd. This 'white-label' arrangement allows brands to offer gambling services to UK consumers using the licence and platform of an established operator.
The Request and The Refusal
The FOI request did not ask for the names of the owners. Instead, it sought a description of any documents the UKGC holds that would identify the ultimate beneficial owners of the two brands. It also asked for non-identifiable details, such as the owners' nationality and whether they were individuals or corporate entities.
The UKGC responded by stating it could "neither confirm nor deny" whether it held any information within the scope of the request. To justify this, it invoked Section 31(3) of the Freedom of Information Act, an exemption related to law enforcement.
The regulator argued that confirming or denying the existence of such records could "alert individuals involved to the fact that the Commission was/is or alternatively wasn’t/isn’t engaging in specific conversations with operators and provide them with an opportunity to alter their behaviours or evade detection."
An internal review requested by the applicant on 6 December 2023 upheld the Commission's original decision. In its review, the UKGC stated that disclosing the information had a greater than 50% chance of causing "prejudice to the Commission."
Why This Matters for Consumers
The UKGC's response highlights a significant transparency issue within the white-label model. While the master licence holder, in this case TGP Europe, is responsible for the compliant operation of its partners, consumers may be left in the dark about who ultimately owns and profits from the sites they use.
The use of a law enforcement exemption is notable. This type of 'neither confirm nor deny' response is typically reserved for sensitive matters where acknowledging the existence of information could compromise an investigation or intelligence gathering. By applying it to a request about the type of documents it holds, the UKGC signals a high degree of sensitivity surrounding the ownership of 8XBet and 6686.
For consumers, this lack of transparency means it is difficult to know who is behind certain gambling brands operating legally in the UK. The regulator's stance places the full burden of due diligence on the master licence holder, while the Commission itself remains silent on what it knows about the ultimate beneficiaries of these operations.