Sunday Times Accuses 1xBet of Irresponsible Behaviour, Operator Disputing It

UK newspaper, Sunday Times, has placed operator, 1xBet, at the center of a potential media storm following the allegations that the company has targeted audience on sites prohibited for gambling marketing.

1xBet has reacted swiftly and rejected these accusations, saying it has always acted and operated in a socially responsible fashion. However, their website – licensed under Curacao jurisdiction – has since gone offline and was replaced with a static page noticing visitors that is unavailable right now.

Tracing the Roots of the Decision

The betting brand cites third-party networks for the issues that have forced this site offline…

…and, despite denying their involvement in any irresponsible behavior, the operator has confirmed that they will be addressing this issue in tandem with the UK Gambling Commission. They are also working on landing a full gaming license for the British market.

The operator claims that it’s their third-party partners to blame for any inappropriate advertising as it was done without their previous consent or knowledge. The company spokesperson says:

“We take very seriously the allegation that 1xBet’s brand has been promoted on prohibited sites. We have launched an immediate internal investigation to ensure we improve our monitoring in this regard.

Further, we have retained the services of an additional team including the UK’s leading specialist gaming and gambling consultants to advise us on all matters relating to this market.”

Investigation Pending

The UKGC says that they are conducting an ongoing inquiry into 1xBet and their relationship with operator FSB, whose platform the site in question uses…

…however, they would not publicly share any details about this case. FSB permits 1xBet to operate under their license and there has not been any substantial evidence that they are at fault.

The operator reaffirms, however, their full commitment to responsible gambling cause and the responsibility they have towards their base of customers. They look to adhere to the rules and regulations of any market they are part of.

“We are an established, international gaming company, which abides by all the relevant laws and regulations in every jurisdiction in which we operate. We are fully committed to creating an environment that protects people from irresponsible gambling and addiction.”

Deals With English Football Clubs

Ready to cooperate with UKGC to the full extent, 1xBet is still hopeful they will be in a position to land a full UK operating license. The spokesperson for the company said that they will fully cooperate with UKGC and make sure their full UK operating license is on track and that they are fully committed to UK market.

The operator has signed several important deals with notable English Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Tottenham in the wake of the season that recently began. They are also in a business agreement with London’s Chelsea.

It remains to be seen whether this controversy will in any way affect these deals.

Source:

“1xBet rejects allegations of irresponsible behaviour”, igamingbusiness.com, August 13, 2019.