888 Holdings Fined £9.4 Million for Failing to Protect Vulnerable Customers

888 Holdings has been fined £9.4 million by the UK Gambling Commission for failing to protect vulnerable customers. The UK Gambling Commission claims that 888 failed to protect potentially vulnerable customers and no financial checks were carried out until they deposited more than £40,000.

One customer lost £37,000 in a six-week period during 2020, straight after the UKGC warned the gambling industry that more must be done to protect the vulnerable due to lockdowns in the early stages of the pandemic.

Another customer who earned £1,400 per month was given a £1,300 deposit limit. An investigation showed that 888’s social responsibility policy did not consist of any detailed customer interaction, only an email template describing responsible gambling tools. Itai Pazner, CEO of 888, acknowledged the company’s failures and committed to working more closely with the UKGC.