In a dramatic turn of events that has sent ripples through the UK sports and gambling sectors, TGP Europe—a prominent sponsor behind multiple Premier League football clubs—has withdrawn from the UK market following a £3.3 million fine from the UK Gambling Commission. The fine comes after regulators uncovered serious anti-money laundering (AML) breaches and due diligence failures linked to the company’s operations.
TGP Europe, headquartered in the Isle of Man, operated several betting brands via white-label arrangements, including high-profile names like Fun88, SBOTOP, and Sportsbet.io. These brands were featured on the shirts and sponsorship banners of major Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United, Fulham, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and others.
The UK Gambling Commission’s investigation revealed that TGP failed to properly vet its business partners and did not implement necessary controls to prevent money laundering, prompting the hefty financial penalty and a forced market exit. In response, the Commission issued formal warnings to five Premier League clubs—Newcastle United, Fulham FC, AFC Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Burnley FC—for promoting unlicensed betting operators via their association with TGP Europe’s brands.
In a stark warning, the Commission noted that failure to take action could expose these clubs to potential legal prosecution. Club officials have been instructed to provide documented evidence showing that proper due diligence was conducted on their sponsorship partners. Additionally, clubs must now ensure that the associated gambling websites are inaccessible to UK users, including implementing stringent geo-blocking measures to prevent access through VPNs.
John Pierce, head of enforcement at the UK Gambling Commission, criticized TGP Europe’s practices, stating, “This case involves a gambling company that was unwilling or unable to meet the regulatory standards we expect from our licensees.”
The case has drawn renewed attention to the controversial nature of white-label agreements in the gambling industry, which allow operators to run gambling platforms under another company’s license. Critics argue that such arrangements can allow unvetted or overseas entities to bypass rigorous regulatory scrutiny.
This incident comes at a time when the Premier League is already taking steps to scale back its reliance on gambling sponsorships, with a planned phase-out of front-of-shirt betting logos by the end of the 2025/26 season. Still, the TGP scandal underscores how vulnerable the current system remains and highlights the importance of enforcing strict compliance standards across the entire sponsorship and gambling ecosystem.
As the regulatory landscape tightens and scrutiny intensifies, football clubs, gambling firms, and regulators alike will need to take a far more proactive approach to risk management and ethical sponsorship practices. The future of gambling’s place in British sport hangs in the balance, and this case could be a turning point.
