The Gambling Commission has suspended the operating licenses of two online betting operators, BresBet Ltd and Bet St George Ltd. This action comes in response to suspected breaches of social responsibility protocols and anti-money laundering (AML) controls. The suspensions took effect on August 28, 2026, following the initiation of formal license reviews under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.
These reviews arose from preliminary inquiries that suggested potential regulatory deficiencies at BresBet, which manages the bresbet.com platform, and at Bet St George, which runs betstgeorge.com. The Commission stated that the licenses will remain suspended until the companies address and correct the compliance issues to the regulator's satisfaction.
During the suspension, both companies must treat their customers fairly and keep them informed of any developments that may affect them. Customers will still have access to their accounts and the ability to withdraw funds, and both platforms will remain contactable.
BresBet has been operating in the UK since 2021, while Bet St George launched earlier this year. Nic Brereton is the director for both brands. In a March interview, Brereton commented on the difficulties facing the UK betting sector, particularly with impending tax increases, but expressed optimism about opportunities for new market approaches. He remarked, "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, 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 comes just six months after its establishment. While listed as separate private companies, BresBet and Bet St George share an office space and had recently shared a director until Sarah Laycock's resignation earlier this month, when she stepped down as managing director of BresBet and from Bet St George simultaneously. Brereton had previously resigned from BresBet in 2021, but returned to the position in 2023.
The Gambling Commission has recently addressed ongoing failures in anti-money laundering practices within the industry. A report released last month highlighted that operator failures continue to be significant contributors to money laundering and terrorist financing risks. The Commission identified inadequacies in AML/CTF policies, poorly trained personnel, insufficient AML thresholds, and inadequate monitoring of accounts.
Earlier, QuinnBet was fined £609,104 ($830,501) for similar AML violations. Criticism has emerged regarding the Commission's reliance on fines rather than suspensions for compliance failures. Terry White, a safer gambling advocate and former betting shop manager, remarked, "When a betting shop or organization is told that they can’t trade in the UK or globally for 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. [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."
