Renowned Russian online gambling company 1xBet is on the spotlight yet again after a recent Sunday Times investigation revealed that the operator had been engaging in some unethical and illegal (sort of) activities. This did not come as much of a surprise as the company has also had a ton of regulatory troubles in several jurisdictions.
According to the aforementioned Sunday Times report, 1xBet has involved in some very questionable and arguably very illegal gambling and advertising practices. Some of these bizarre practices included the promotion of a “pornhub casino” as well as advertising to children and on illegal websites – as it turns out, the gaming operator is one of the biggest advertisers in some websites that are known for illegally streamliner Premier League football matches. It was also found to be promoting its services on piracy websites. The pornhub casino reportedly used topless croupiers to attract more gamblers to their UK-facing site.
The operator’s representatives have since denied these allegations by stating that third-party networks were to blame for the highlighted issues. Apparently, 1xBet’s partners are to blame for the advertisements since they were allegedly done without the company’s approval. To show just how serious they are about settling the issue, 1xBet has stated that it will also be launching an internal investigation. In addition to that, the company has also “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”.
The UK Gambling Commission Takes Action
The United Kingdom’s gambling regulator has since begun investigating 1xBet and its activities. Meanwhile, 1xBet’s UK-facing site will has been suspended as the issue is sorted out. The UKGC’s investigation will involve inquiries into 1xBet and its relationship with FSB, a gambling service provider that is licensed to operate in the country.
1xBet is not the only gaming company that is being investigated by the PGCB. A recent report has revealed that complaints leveled against the country’s online gambling companies have gone up by nearly 5000 percent. If the results of the report are anything to go by, 1xBet might not be the only company being investigated.
“We are pushing the industry to know its customers, and part of this is actually, possibly, a good sign because it’s suggesting that consumers are demanding more of the gambling operators. And I would encourage them to continue to do that,” Neil McArthur, the chief executive of the Gambling Commission, said about the report.
While the information is certainly very worrying, it will go a long in assisting the gambling regulator in ensuring that operators are offering their products and services in accordance with the law.
