SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has initiated a review of In Touch Games’ licence, suspending the company’s permit with immediate effect in the latest in a series of enforcements against the firm.
In Touch – which operates the bonusboss.co.uk, cashmo.co.uk, casino.mfortune.co.uk, casino2020.co.uk, drslot.co.uk, jammymonkey.com, mfortune.co.uk, mrspin.co.uk, pocketwin.co.uk and slotfactory.com sites – has been suspected of breaching terms of the 2005 Gambling Act.
Suspension of In Touch’s licence means that the firm cannot accept customer deposits or enable users to play games on its platform. However, customers can still withdraw any remaining money from their accounts.
“We have made it clear to the operator that during the course of the suspension, we expect it to focus on treating consumers fairly and keeping them fully informed of any developments which impact them,” the Commission stated.
Based in the West Midlands of England, In Touch was set up in 2007 as an igaming operator specialising in slots and table games such as roulette and blackjack, with the mFortune brand its flagship offering.
The company has a history of regulatory trouble, as the operator was served a financial penalty for social responsibility and AML failures in January this year to the tune of £6.1m.
This followed penalties of £2.2m in 2019, and £3.4m and a warning in 2021. The company has faced accusations of lacking policies, procedures and controls on AML and social responsibility requirements, including a lack of awareness of UKGC guidance and of the significance of politically exposed persons (PEPs).
Commenting on the January 2023 enforcement, UKGC Executive Director of Operations, Kay Roberts, said: “Considering this operator’s history of failings we expected to see significant improvement when we carried out our planned compliance assessment. Disappointingly, although many improvements had been made, there was still more to do.”
Following the suspension of the group’s licence, In Touch Games’ membership of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) trade association and standards body has also been put on hold.
A spokesperson for the BGC said: “Following the suspension of their operating licence by the Gambling Commission, consistent with our strict rules, we are immediately suspending In Touch Games Ltd’s membership of the BGC while the details of the case are investigated.
“As the standards body representing the regulated industry, our top priority is ensuring that the interests of In Touch Games Ltd’s customers are protected.”
