The U.K. Gambling Commission announced on March 20 that it has suspended the license held by Metro Play Ltd., the online subsidiary of 666Bet, and is reviewing the company’s operations. The company was launched last June, and the license was issued in September.
According to a statement from the UKGC, the commission “suspects that Metro Play Ltd. is unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities and considers it appropriate to suspend the license with immediate effect pending the conclusion of the review.” No further details were immediately available, but the commission added that the suspension “is an interim measure, the need for which will be kept under consideration whilst the review takes place.”
On its Twitter page, 666Bet wrote, “Due to unforeseen circumstances, our site is now under maintenance. We hope to have this back up and running as soon as possible.” Several days later, according to iGamingbusiness.com, the feed apologized for the “continued downtime” and said the site would “announce very soon how to withdraw funds.”
Gambling Insider reports that 666Bet, based on the Isle of Man, has signed partnership deals with several Barclays Premier League football clubs and several non-league English clubs and boxing cards. In the aftermath of the news, English League club Leyton Orient terminated its sponsorship deal with 666Bet.
In other news, former CEO Barry Martin stepped down from his position in January; 666Bet did not comment on his departure.
