Sorare Prosecution: No Public Court Docs Yet
A Freedom of Information request reveals the UKGC's landmark case against the NFT fantasy sports platform is proceeding, but details from recent hearings remain private.
The UK Gambling Commission has confirmed that procedural hearings for its prosecution of Sorare.com took place in June 2025. However, a recent FOI response reveals that no public documents from these hearings are available yet. This indicates the landmark case is progressing, but key details remain under wraps.
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UKGC Confirms Sorare Hearings, Withholds Documents
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that while the UK Gambling Commission's (UKGC) prosecution of fantasy sports platform Sorare.com is actively proceeding, no public documents from recent court hearings are currently available.
The response, stemming from a request dated 2 July 2025, confirms that procedural hearings for the case took place at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on 16 and 23 June 2025. However, it clarifies that no announcements or procedural summaries related to these hearings have been made publicly available.
Context: A Landmark Case for UK Regulation
The UKGC first issued a consumer information notice regarding Sorare on 26 September 2024, signalling the start of a significant regulatory challenge. Sorare's platform, which combines fantasy football with trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs), operates in a novel area that blurs the lines between gaming, collecting, and gambling.
This prosecution is a landmark event, as its outcome could set a crucial precedent for how similar NFT and blockchain-based platforms are regulated within the UK. For consumers, the case highlights the regulatory uncertainty and potential risks associated with using platforms that have not been licensed by the Gambling Commission.
Details from the FOI Response
The FOI request sought access to any public notices or court documents related to the Sorare prosecution issued between late 2024 and mid-2025. In its response, the UKGC stated:
- Information is Accessible Elsewhere: The Commission invoked Section 21 of the FOIA, which exempts information that is already reasonably accessible. It directed the requestor to a single webpage dedicated to the case.
- Webpage Updates: The UKGC confirmed this page, originally published on 26 September 2024, received updates on 12 June 2025 and 1 July 2025, dates which closely surround the procedural court hearings.
- No Court Documents: Crucially, the Commission confirmed that "at present there are not any publicly available documents (e.g., announcements or procedural summaries) related to the procedural hearings."
This indicates that while the legal process is moving forward, it remains in a preliminary phase. The lack of public documentation is common during procedural stages, before substantive arguments and evidence are presented in open court.
Significance for Consumers and the Industry
The key takeaway from this disclosure is that the UKGC's case against Sorare is active and progressing through the legal system. The regulator is centralising all public communication about the case on a specific page on its website, which it is updating as the case develops.
For consumers, this confirms that the platform is the subject of an ongoing criminal prosecution by the UK's gambling regulator, which alleges it is operating without the required licence. The absence of detailed court documents means the specific legal arguments are not yet public, leaving consumers and the wider industry waiting for more clarity.
The outcome of this prosecution will be watched closely, as it could have far-reaching implications for the future of fantasy sports, NFTs, and gambling regulation in the United Kingdom.