source: UKGC Online gambling operator Taichi Tech LTD, trading as Fafabet, has been hit with a £170,000 fine by the UK's Gambling Commission (UKGC).
The UKGC uncovered a number of serious regulatory breaches linked to unfair promotional terms and failures in anti-money laundering and player protection measures.
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Unfair Terms: Their customer terms unreasonably allowed the operator to close accounts or confiscate winnings at its sole discretion.
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Anti-Money Laundering Failures: The Commission flagged insufficient safeguards—like lack of checks on players making rapid, large financial transactions.
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Social Responsibility Lapses: Enhanced player interaction should have occurred for “high-velocity” gamblers, but it didn’t.
The regulator took aim at a discretionary term that allowed Fafabet to close customer accounts or forfeit winnings without justification. The UKGC criticised such terms as lacking transparency and leading to unfair outcomes for customers.
Regulators said the terms breached the fair and open provisions of the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP).
Under the LCCP, operators must ensure all terms and practices comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which requires fairness and clarity for consumers.
Though AML and safer gambling were not the focal point in this investigation, the UKGC has still found some discrepancies in this area. As well as issuing the firm a £170,000 fine, the Commission will also order a third-party audit of Fafabet’s operations.
All UK Casino Operators Within UKGC's Sights
Taichi Tech Ltd is a UK-based technology company incorporated in March 2019, with its headquarters in Reading. Whilst primarily a private limited firm specialising in IT consultancy and business support services, it's better known in the gambling sector for operating under the brand Fafabet—an online UK casino and betting site.
Its assets grew from £160,000 in 2020 to over £3.2 million by March 2023, alongside a workforce of approximately four staff.
The UKGC director of enforcement and intelligence, John Pierce, said of the ruling:
“We expect all operators — regardless of their size or customer base — to comply with consumer protection legislation and ensure their terms and conditions meet regulatory standards.”
“Licensed operators must ensure their terms are clear, fair, and transparent, so customers fully understand what to expect.”
Whilst still a relatively small player in the UK casino scene, Taichi Tech’s case serves as a caution to other operators that regulatory scrutiny is intensifying across the sector.
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