The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has fined gambling operator Betway Limited for marketing on the children’s pages of West Ham United Football Club’s website.
According to the Commission, enquiries revealed that between April 14th, 2020, and November 6th, 2021, Betway Limited’s logo, which linked to the Betway website, was displayed on a webpage offering viewers the opportunity to print a teddy bear for children to colour in.
Enquiries also revealed that a logo and link to Betway Limited’s website also appeared on the Young Hammers At Home website between October 24th, 2021, and November 15th, 2021.
As a result, Betway Limited was found to have breached Commission rules on socially responsible gambling advertising and has been fined £408,915.
Leanne Oxley, the Gambling Commission Director of Enforcement, said in a statement: “Protecting children from gambling harm is at the heart of what we do.
“Although there is no suggestion that the operator was deliberately targeting children, or that children had been allowed to gamble, we take the breach of any rules aimed at protecting children extremely seriously.”
She added: “We note the remedial actions since taken by licensee but advise all operators to learn from this case and ensure that they take responsibility and have the correct processes in place so that websites directed at children do not include advertisements for gambling.”
The news comes after the Gambling Commission fined Entain £17 million, Smarkets, and LeoVegas £1.32 million for multiple failures.
