The UK Gambling Commission has prosecuted two men for running a type of skins betting operation for eSports betting on video soccer games.
Dylan Rigby, 34, of Colchester, Essex, and Craig Douglas, 33, of Ilford, Essex, both pleaded guilty to charges that they were officers of a business, Game Gold Tradings, which provided facilities for gambling without having a license to do so and which advertised unlawful gambling, according to a report at out-law.com.
The company ran FutGalaxy.com where players could trade an in-game virtual currency on video soccer matches—based on FIFA games from EA Sports—for ‘FUT coins,’ which could be gambled. Those coins could be converted to FIFA coins and then “sold for real money on an unauthorized secondary market,” the commission said.
According to the report, it was ruled that underage players had used the site to gamble and Rigby was ordered to pay £164,000 in fines and costs, whilst Douglas was ordered to pay £91,000.
“This was one of the most serious cases that has been investigated and prosecuted by the Commission, Sarah Harrison, Gambling Commission chief executive, said in a press statement. “Its gravity is reflected in the significant financial penalties imposed by the judge. Rigby and Douglas knew that the site was used by children and that their conduct was illegal but they turned a blind eye in order to achieve substantial profits. The effect on children of online gambling was rightly described by the court as ‘horrific’ and ‘serious’.”
“All websites offering gambling facilities in Britain must be licensed,” she continued. “It is the only way in which children and vulnerable people can be protected. This case demonstrates that we will use the full range of our statutory powers to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies who try to operate illegally,” she said.
