Skybet fined £1m for failing to protect vulnerable consumers

The Gambling Commission has fined Skybet £1m for failing to protect vulnerable consumers.

The watchdog said on Wednesday that the failures related to Skybet customers who had self-excluded from gambling. This is when consumers who feel they are having trouble controlling their gambling request that the operator refuse their service.

The commission found that weakness in Skybet’s self-exclusion facilities meant that 736 self-excluded customers were able to open and use duplicate accounts to gamble, while around 50,000 received marketing material by email, mobile text or a push notification within a mobile app. In addition, 36,748 self-excluded customers did not have their account balance funds returned to them on account closure.

Programme director Richard Watson said: "This was a serious failure affecting thousands of potentially vulnerable customers and the £1m penalty package should serve as a warning to all gambling businesses.

"Protecting consumers from gambling-related harm is a priority for us and where we see operators failing in their responsibility to keep their customers safe we will take tough action.

"Skybet reported the issues to us quickly, cooperated with us and has taken this investigation seriously."