The Gambling Commission suspended the licences of BresBet Ltd and Bet St George Ltd on 28 August 2026 over failures in responsible gambling and anti-money laundering controls. Both operators remain barred from taking new business until they address the breaches.
The suspension followed a formal review under Section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005. BresBet operates bresbet.com and has held a UK licence since 2021. Bet St George launched betstgeorge.com earlier this year; the regulator froze its licence six months after market entry. Both brands share a director, Nic Brereton. BresBet managing director Sarah Laycock resigned in August, stepping down from both companies at the same time. Players retain access to their accounts and can withdraw funds.
The Commission's July AML report flagged systemic operator failings: weak policies, poorly trained staff, incorrect monitoring thresholds and inadequate oversight of linked accounts. Two weeks ago QuinnBet paid a £609,104 penalty for similar breaches.
Rresponsible gambling lawyer Terry White told iGB that fines no longer deter operators, who treat them as a cost of doing business. He argued that licence suspensions hit revenue harder and force real behavioural change. The regulator has historically favoured financial penalties over operational bans.
