The Gambling Commission has suspended the operating licenses of BresBet Ltd and Bet St George Ltd due to apparent failures in social responsibility and anti-money laundering (AML) practices.
The suspensions, which took effect on August 28, 2026, followed formal license reviews initiated by the Commission under Section 116 of the Gambling Act of 2005. These reviews were prompted by initial inquiries that raised concerns about regulatory compliance at BresBet, which operates the bresbet.com platform, and Bet St George, known for its betstgeorge.com site.
According to the Commission, the suspensions will remain in effect until both operators adequately address the identified compliance issues. During this suspension period, both companies are required to treat their customers fairly and keep them informed regarding any updates that may impact them.
Customers will still have access to their accounts and will be able to withdraw their funds. The websites remain operational, allowing customer contact through their platforms.
BresBet has been a participant in the UK betting market since 2021, while Bet St George entered the UK arena only earlier this year. Notably, Nic Brereton serves as a director for both operators.
In comments made to iGB earlier this year, Brereton acknowledged the tough climate for bookmakers amid recent tax increases but expressed optimism about finding new opportunities in the market. He stated, "It’s a challenging time for bookmakers in terms of launching, but we still feel that if you’ve got the right brand, the right cost of service, and you’re willing to try and take a bet, there are still opportunities to have a successful business."
The suspension of Bet St George’s license follows just six months after its UK launch. Although listed as separate companies, both BresBet and Bet St George share an office building and, until recently, had common directorship.
Sarah Laycock, who had been serving as managing director for BresBet since 2025, resigned earlier this month, simultaneously stepping down from her role at Bet St George. Brereton had previously resigned from BresBet in 2021 but was reappointed in 2023.
Last month, the Gambling Commission published a report on anti-money laundering and terrorist financing, underscoring persistent shortcomings among operators that increase money laundering and terrorist financing risks. The report detailed subpar AML and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) policies as well as inadequately trained personnel.
It also highlighted issues such as incorrectly set AML thresholds and ineffective monitoring of linked or duplicate accounts.
Just weeks ago, QuinnBet was fined £609,104 ($830,501) for similar AML infractions. Industry insiders have criticized the Commission for issuing fines without suspending licenses after compliance failures.
Terry White, a safer gambling advocate and former betting shop manager, expressed his frustration, suggesting that a temporary trading ban would have a stronger deterrent effect than fines. He commented, "When a betting shop or organization is told that they can’t trade in the UK or globally for, let’s say, a month, that’ll hurt them, and they’ll never do it again. But they’ll pay [a fine] all day long. They’re not bothered. It’s the price of doing business."
He added, "They get fined astronomical amounts of money again, but their license does not get revoked or suspended. The companies don’t care. They make more than that in what they actually do."
