Court Rejects Daub Alderney’s Appeal Against UKGC Fine

A court has rejected an operator’s appeal against a UK Gambling Commission penalty.

In September 2021, the UKGC fined Daub Alderney £5.85m for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.

Daub Alderney appealed to the First-Tier Tribunal on the grounds that the financial penalty was excessive, unfair and disproportionate.

But following a hearing Judge Findlay dismissed the appeal and stated the financial penalty was a “fair and reasonable regulatory response”.

She said: “I find that there were serious breaches which were similar to the breaches for which a substantial financial penalty was imposed in 2018 and there are no new facts which persuade me that the decision was wrong. I find that the (Commission Regulatory) Panel did not err in law and complied with its statutory obligations.”

Sarah Gardner, Deputy CEO of UKGC, said: “We welcome the First-Tier Tribunal’s decision to dismiss this appeal.

“We do not take the decision to fine gambling companies lightly but we will always take firm, decisive action against operators who fail to follow rules aimed at making gambling safe and free from crime.”