On September 1st 2023 the UK Gambling Commission announced the suspension of the operating licence of InTouch Games. In the featured article on their website, the Commission stated;

‘The review and consequent suspension follows concerns that activities may have been carried out contrary to the Act, not in accordance with conditions of their licence and that the Licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities. It is suspected the operator failed to follow licence conditions related to money laundering, fair and transparent terms and practices, and reporting key events.’

The online casino operator who operates bonusboss.co.uk, cashmo.co.uk, casino.mfortune.co.uk, casino2020.co.uk, drslot.co.uk, jammymonkey.com, mfortune.co.uk, mrspin.co.uk and pocketwin.co.uk has been subject to 3 prior regulatory actions.

The previous actions can be view on the Commission website at the below links;

> InTouch Games to pay £2.2M – May 2019

> InTouch Games to pay £3.4M – March 2021

> InTouch Games to pay £6.1M – January 2023

The timing of this fine is made more interesting as it follows the acquisition of InTouch Games by Skywind Group which was announced in June of 2022 (see link).

Given the timing, it would be easy to assume that the £6.1M fine and potentially the suspension, relate to failings which were present during the time of the acquisition. Keen followers of iGaming industry news, may recall the fine issued to Daub Alderney announced on the Commission website In September of 2021 (see link), where Helen Venn stated ‘The Licensee’s culpability, and the requisite penalty reflecting that culpability, cannot be affected by the fact that its shares have now passed from one set of investors to another. The Licensee does not escape or mitigate the consequences of its actions because its shares are sold’.

The Commission would be likely to take a similar approach in any case where failures are discovered following a recent sale. The Commission will no doubt provide further updates in due course.

Link: Click HERE