The UK Gambling Commission has lifted its suspension of Genesis Global Limited’s gambling license, allowing it to resume operations in the United Kingdom.
Back in July, the Gambling Commission announced a suspension on Genesis Global Limited’s gambling license after conducting a review under section 116 and section 118 of the Gambling Act 2005 over several compliance issues.
After conducting the review, the Commission concluded that Genesis Global Limited had breached a condition of their license and was unsuitable to continue running licensed gambling activities. As a result, the operator’s license was suspended with immediate effect, preventing it from offering its services to UK users.
From July 20th, 2020, Genesis Global websites Casoola, Vegas Hero, Casino Planet, Spinit, Kassu, Spela, Casino Cruise, Sloty, Casino Gods, Pelaa, Casino Joy, and Genesis Casino, were all closed to the UK, and registered customers were advised to withdraw all funds and register elsewhere.
Now, almost four months later, the UK Gambling Commission has announced that it’s lifted its suspension of Genesis Global Limited’s gambling license, allowing the operator to relaunch its casino sites in the UK and resume operations with immediate effect.
The UK Gambling Commission issued a statement on their website, confirming that it had lifted the suspension but stressing that it will continue to review Genesis Global Limited’s gambling license.
The statement reads: “On 14 October, the Commission lifted the interim suspension of Genesis Global Limited’s license. The operator can now offer gambling services to consumers in Great Britain.
“As a result of assurance provided by the operator, the suspension has been lifted. The review into Genesis Global Limited’s license continues.”
Meanwhile, Genesis Global Limited has stated that it is working hard to relaunch its casino sites over the coming days while aiming to provide its customers with a responsible and safe gaming environment.
Ariel Reem, the CEO at Genesis Casino, said in a statement: “We are pleased to announce that the suspension of our UKGC license has been lifted, as a result of the intensive work and huge dedication our business has demonstrated in the last few months.
“This clear testament to our commitment to both UK regulations and to our customers. We are also hugely thankful to our staff for their dedication and trust, and to our suppliers who have assisted in rectifying a difficult situation which arose during unusual economic circumstances for the whole world.”
Genesis Global has also stated that it will continue to work closely with the UK Gambling Commission to ensure that it adheres to all licensing conditions, that the regulatory body’s concerns have been satisfied, and that updates will be provided on a regular basis.
The news comes after the UK Gambling Commission awarded Pragmatic Solutions with a Remote Operating License, allowing the firm to offers its services to players and operators based in the United Kingdom.
As reported by GamblingInsider, Pragmatic Solutions, the sister-company of casino game developer Pragmatic Play, provides gambling operators with SaaS technology built around a Player Account Management (PAM) platform which includes various tools for operators. These include wallets for payments, bonus management tools, fraud-prevention systems, CRM tools, payment tools, as well as Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering services.
Alongside the above, Pragmatic Solutions offers operators a Content Management System to power gaming websites and Integration Hub services to connect a gambling operator with third-party game developers as well as other services.
The UK Gambling Commission issued the license under Part 5 of the Gambling Act 2005, allowing the firm to manufacture, install, supply, and adapt its gambling software to gambling operators which hold valid UK licenses.
In a statement, Ashley Lang, the CEO at Pragmatic Solutions, said: “This is yet another important milestone in the strategic development of Pragmatic Solutions as a leading technology provider to the regulated iGaming industry.
“Obtaining a license from the UK Gambling Commission is not only critical to the ability to grow our business in the UK, but also further demonstrates our commitment to meet the highest technical and compliance standards of the industry worldwide.”
Lloyd Lemmon, the Head of Legal and Compliance at Pragmatic Solutions, said: “The Gambling Commission is widely regarded as having the highest standards for regulation, player protection, and social responsibility, so we are proud to have obtained this approval for our business.”
While awarding licenses and regulating existing licensees, the UK Gambling Commission has also been working with the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) to drive up standards within the gambling industry.
Earlier this month, the Commission announced a series of new rules to “stamp out” VIP scheme malpractice. The new rules laid out by the Commission, which come into effect from October 31st, will require operators to carry out additional checks on player spending, assessing whether there is evidence of gambling-related harm, and more.
What’s more, operators will also be required to appoint a Senior Executive with a Personal Management License (PML) to oversee their VIP schemes and to hold individuals accountable.
Back in April, the Gambling Commission made a gigantic change to the gambling industry after banning credit cards at brick-and-mortar gambling venues and at online casinos too. The ban was implemented as part of the Commission’s pledge to protecting gamblers, and ultimately forced users to choose an alternative payment option.
During the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown earlier this year, the Gambling Commission issued new guidance to casino operators, banning them from carrying out reverse withdrawals and implementing new restrictions on bonuses. The Commission also required operators to conduct additional affordability checks to improve player safety.
More recently, the Commission called for the financial industry to do more to aid the fight against gambling-related harm. This week, the regulatory body revealed that gambling revenue had fallen over the last few months of 2020.
The Commission reported a decline in the length of time users played online slots, a drop in the number of bets made each month, a decline in the number of people placing sports bets, but it reported an increase in the number of customer interactions undertaken by casino operators.
