Betting site 1XBet has closed in the UK following an investigation by the Sunday Times newspaper.
The UK newspaper revealed on Sunday that the UK Gambling Commission was investigating 1XBet’s activities which allegedly included betting on cockfights and children’s sports. It was also found to be advertising on websites such as video file-sharing sites which is illegal under current UK Gambling Commission rules.
The site, which first launched in Russia, was also described as a “pornhub casino” for employing topless dealers for live casino games and launching advertisements that featured female cartoon nudity and linked to the online casino.
A spokesperson for 1XBet told the Sunday Times that the issues were the result of “third-party networks” and promised it would investigate how its ads appeared on the illegal websites.
The betting site, which operates in a platform provided by FSB Tech, was operational last week but now only displays a splash screen of Curacao’s gaming license with a small statement reading: “This site is not currently available”.
According to reports, FSB Tech has said that customers do not need to worry about their account balances as the provider would be reviewing its relationship with the betting firm.
1XBet made headlines recently after announcing betting partnerships with Barcelona, Chelsea and Liverpool football clubs in addition to its sponsorship with Tottenham. It’s unknown whether the sponsorships will continue following this news.
The news comes after a study revealed that the warning appearing on gambling sites does nothing to prevent players from betting, and shortly after several sports player associations stated that gambling is one of the biggest mental health challenges to affect professional sportspeople.
Meanwhile, the UK Gambling Commission has been tightening its regulations on gambling in the nation. Last month, the organisation announced it was launching a 12-week consultation on the use of credit cards at online gambling websites. The Commission revealed the consultation would take place in mid-August and would look at banning credit cards at gambling sites.
The NHS, meanwhile, has been working on tackling on gambling addictions and launched the first-ever gambling clinic for children. It also announced the launch of several other gambling clinics across the country.
