The gambling industry is a competitive and strict industry, and over the last 12 months, we’ve seen numerous gambling operators of both big and small sites depart and enter the UK market.
With the year coming to a close, we thought we’d take a look at some of the operators who have left the market and those who have entered the market.
We’ll preface our round-up by noting that, unfortunately, more gambling operators left the market than entered, but there are still dozens of excellent casino websites for you to play at, many of which we’ve reviewed ourselves!
In February 2022, gambling operator Novibet surrendered its UK gambling licence and left the market. As we reported, Novibet left the market due to “commercial reasons” and announced the news through a banner on the website, giving registered users little time to withdraw their funds and find an alternative.
Sportsbook Bet-at-home.com withdrew from the UK market in July 2022 after the firm’s operating licence was suspended by the Gambling Commission earlier that month. The Commission suspended the firm’s licence over concerns it had been carrying out activities contrary to the Gambling Act 2005. Rather than fighting the suspension, Bet-at-home.com chose instead to leave the market altogether.
Finally, in November, gambling operator Esports Entertainment Group (EEG) withdrew its SportNation and RedZone gambling brands from the UK market, citing a “variety of reasons” such as the “economics of operating a small gaming business in the UK market”.
Several gambling brands have also launched in the United Kingdom, starting with casino and sportsbook Jeffbet from ProgressPlay, which launched at the beginning of the year after acquiring a UK licence from the Gambling Commission in April 2022. The website offers a range of promotions as well as a varied catalogue of casino games and sports betting opportunities.
In July 2022, sports betting software provider Delasport announced plans to enter the UK market after acquiring a licence from the Gambling Commission, allowing the firm to provide its sports betting opportunities to operators and customers across the United Kingdom.
Most recently, in August 2022, DAZN Bet launched in the United Kingdom under gambling operator One Click Limited. The sportsbook currently offers a diverse range of betting opportunities and provides users with games from Pragmatic Play. It also accepts most major payment methods too.
It’s no surprise that more and more mobile casinos and betting websites have been closing or leaving the UK market in recent years, including in 2022. If one of the firms that left this year was your chosen casino, know that there are plenty of alternatives for you to select from.
We’ve compiled a guide to mobile casino closures in the United Kingdom, but if you’re simply looking for a different website to register with, it’s worth taking a look at our extended list of mobile casino reviews, which analyses several casinos’ game selection, payment methods, mobile-friendliness, promotions, and more.
Alternatively, you can always check out the brand-new gambling websites that we’ve mentioned in this post. Regardless of whichever casino or sportsbook you decide to register with, we’re confident you’ll enjoy yourself!
