On 20 March, 2015, Metro Pay Limited, owner of online gambling site 666Bet, had its licence suspended by the UK Gambling Commission. Since then, the team behind 666Bet has been telling customers they will start processing withdrawals as soon as the UKGC gives them the go ahead. But the UKGC responded by reiterating its previous statement in which the online betting site was already ordered to begin the payout process.
While no specific reason for Metro Play’s licence suspension has been revealed, we do know that it relates to the guidelines set forth in Section 118 of the UK Gambling Act of 2005, which deals with suspension policies.
Under this section, it states that if an operator is under review—as is the case with 666Bet—and the UKGC suspects “any of the conditions specified in section 120(1) [Conditions for suspension or revocation] may apply”, the licence may be temporarily suspended pending completion of the review.
When the suspension of Metro Play’s licence was invoked, the UKGC released the following statement:
| UKGC
“The Gambling Commission has commenced a review under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 (the Act) and, under section 118 of the Act, has decided to suspend Operating Licence No 000-039112-R-319435-001 (Metro Play Limited) while that review takes place. “The Commission has decided to commence a review because it suspects that Metro Play Limited (the Licensee) is unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities (section 120(1)(d) of the Act) and considers it appropriate to suspend the licence with immediate effect pending the conclusion of the review. “In accordance with section 118(4)(c) of the Act the Licensee is authorised to settle any outstanding winning bets that it has accepted in reliance on the above operating licence and return any outstanding balances to customers. “The suspension is an interim measure, the need for which will be kept under consideration whilst the review takes place.” |
Again, the UKGC has declined to comment on the reason for the review of 666Bet or subsequent suspension, but according to the DailyMail.co.uk, an investigation into a £21 million fraud and money laundering case involving 666Bet Director, Paul Bell, could have a lot to do with it.
“Paul Bell, a director of 666Bet, was reportedly arrested at Heathrow airport last week as part of a joint money-laundering investigation by HM Revenue & Customs and the National Crime Agency,” read the news publication on 29 March, nine days after the suspension was invoked.
Two weeks later on April 13, 666Bet, which had failed to “return any outstanding balances to customers”, as the UKGC statement clearly entailed, finally made a public statement on the matter. The follow post appeared on 666Bet’s Facebook page that day:
| 666Bet
“We apologise for the continued delay in returning customer funds. We are currently seeking the appropriate approval from the UK Gambling Commission to re-open 666BET and Metro Play to enable customers to access their accounts. We hope to have further news shortly. Thank you once again for your continued patience but please be assured that we are doing all we can to return our customers’ funds.” |
The UKGC was clearly angered by 666Bet’s brazen position on the matter, issuing a brief follow-up statement shortly after.
| UKGC
“The Commission made it clear, when it suspended Metro Play Limited’s licence on 20 March, that it is authorised to settle any outstanding winning bets that it accepted in reliance on its operating licence and return any outstanding balances to customers – and we expect it to do so. “This remains the Commission’s position. The Commission has not specified the method by which Metro Play Limited should pay customers. At no point has Metro Play Limited or its third party providers requested the Commission’s approval in order to carry out this task.” |
Another day passed before 666Bet fired back on Facebook once more:
| 666Bet
“…While the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) have stated that we do not require a licence in order for customers to withdraw their money and authorised us to do so, this is misleading as it does not recognise the fact that, as a web-based company, we need to be online in order for customers to action their withdrawals via their accounts… Following the suspension of our licences by both the UKGC and the Alderney Gaming Control Commission, a number of our third party providers immediately cancelled or suspended our contracts with them, including payment providers. We therefore do not currently have the ability to pay customers out unless we reach an agreement with other providers to return as a “white label”. |
666Bet went on to explain that they are in negotiations with a third party provider, and went so far as to lay the blame on “erroneous and inaccurate press reports – both in print and online” for perpetuating the frustration of their customers.
For the moment, a concise message has been published on the 666Bet.com website that states, “On Monday 20th April we will be providing all customers with details of how they can process their withdrawals from our site.” Whether the online gambling company’s intentions are good or not will, hopefully, be revealed at that time.