Great Britain’s Gambling Commission has moved to suspend the operating licences of Deadheat Racing with ongoing investigations into suspected failures related to social responsibility and anti-money laundering (AML) laws. The suspension, which will take immediate effect, applies to both the operator’s remote as well as non-remote betting licences. Deadheat Racing which has its headquarters in London has held these licences since January 2015.
According to the Commission, the breaches which were suspected were “key considerations” in the decision to halt the operator’s activities while the review took place. Regulators pointed out that early findings suggested Deadheat may have operated in ways that conflict with the licensing objectives established to ensure fair, safe and crime free betting in Great Britain.
The Commission stated “The review and consequent suspension follow concerns that activities have been carried out in a manner which is inconsistent with the licensing objectives, not in accordance with conditions of their licence, and that the licensee may be unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities.” It added to that statement, during the suspension period Deadheat Racing is expected to maintain a clear focus on consumer protection, including keeping customers fully informed of any developments that could affect them.
Corporate records from Companies House list shows James Grassi and Antony Komui as the company’s directors, having held those positions since April 2012. A third director named Christos Symeon held a similar role until his resignation in August 2019. The Commission has not highlighted whether the investigation involves specific individuals or is limited to the company’s operational processes.
The action against Deadheat Racing comes during a period of intensified regulatory pressure across the UK betting industry. In recent months, the Gambling Commission has issued several fines and suspensions to high profiles as part of its broader effort to enforce compliance and protect consumers.
Just days before the announcement regarding Deadheat, Videoslots received a hefty £650,000 penalty for multiple failings of AML and social responsibility. Earlier in November another company NetBet was ordered to pay the same amount after the regulator identified similar breaches in its customer monitoring and risk management protocols.
In another significant move, the Commission suspended Spribe OÜ’s software licence in October due to what it described as “serious” non-compliance with hosting requirements. Spribe later highlighted that it had initiated a new hosting licence application and is pushing to resume operations swiftly.
The Commission’s latest actions reinforce its message that all licensees small or large must meet the high standards required to maintain the integrity and safety of the UK gambling industry.