United Kingdom

Bookmakers reminded of licence responsibilities at Cheltenham Festival

The UK Gambling Commission has reminded on-course bookmakers at the Cheltenham Festival of their operating licence responsibilities, particularly concerning anti-money laundering and cash handling. Licensees must adhere to policies and report suspicious activities.

OFWAT Investigation into Castle Water Dispute

The UK's water regulator, OFWAT, has opened an investigation into Castle Water following a complaint regarding a water market dispute. The investigation is being conducted under section 17E of the Water Industry Act 1991.

Ofwat Proposes £22m Fine for South East Water Supply Failures

Ofwat has proposed a £22 million fine for South East Water following an investigation into repeated supply failures between 2020 and 2023. The failures affected over 286,000 customers and were attributed to inadequate planning, poor infrastructure maintenance, and a lack of resilience. A public consultation on the proposed fine is now open.

Ofwat Proposes £44.7m Enforcement for Wastewater Failures

Ofwat has proposed a £44.7 million enforcement package for Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water due to serious and unacceptable breaches in operating and maintaining its wastewater treatment works and network. This proposed action follows a consultation period, with a final decision pending.

Ofwat investigates Dŵr Cymru sewage spills and network harm

Ofwat has opened an enforcement investigation into Dŵr Cymru for alleged breaches related to sewage treatment works and network management, leading to environmental harm. The company has proposed undertakings valued at £44.72m, including a redress package, in lieu of a £40.6 million financial penalty.

Ofwat Responds to CMA's Final Water Price Control Decisions

Ofwat has responded to the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) final decision on price controls for five water companies. The response acknowledges the CMA's work and indicates that Ofwat will consider these decisions for future price reviews.

Videoslots Limited Fined £650,000 for AML and Social Responsibility Failures

The UK Gambling Commission has fined Videoslots Limited £650,000 for significant Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and social responsibility failures. The operator also received a warning and must undergo a third-party audit to rectify systemic issues in customer monitoring and AML controls.

Done Brothers (Cash Betting) fined £825,000 for AML and social responsibility failures

The UK Gambling Commission has fined Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Limited, trading as Betfred, £825,000 for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures. The operator will also undergo a third-party audit to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

Gambling Commission suspends Deadheat Racing operating licence

The UK Gambling Commission has suspended the operating licence of Deadheat Racing Limited due to concerns over licensing objectives, including suspected social responsibility and anti-money laundering failings. The suspension is immediate and requires the operator to focus on consumer fairness.

Man receives suspended jail sentence for illegal WhatsApp bookie

The UK Gambling Commission reports that Haydon Simcock received a 30-week suspended jail sentence for operating an illegal WhatsApp bookie business. He was also ordered to pay £230,000 in compensation and £60,000 in costs for failing to pay a customer's £269,000 balance.