Huge fine for Lottomart: shocking failures exposed
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21 Sep 2025 •
Reading time: 2 minutes Lottomart is in serious trouble. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has fined its parent company, Maple International Ventures, a staggering £360,000 (€414,000).
Why? Because their operations were not in order. There was insufficient control over money laundering, and players slipped through the cracks far too easily. This is a major blow for a company that claims to be reliable.
How it came to this and what went wrong
The fine follows an extensive investigation. Regulators went through the paperwork and discovered that anti-money laundering rules were not properly enforced. It also became clear that players did not receive adequate protection.
John Pierce, the UKGC’s Director of Enforcement, stated this was no mere mistake. In his view, all operators must thoroughly review their systems, having neat policies on paper is not enough; they must also work in practice.
We’ve heard it often lately: companies that claim to have everything in order, only to be exposed when the regulator checks. And then comes the bill.
Other companies have already been hit
Lottomart is not the only one under fire. Less than a month ago, ProgressPlay was also fined a hefty £1 million. That company had similar problems and had been caught before. As a result, they were also required to undergo an independent audit.
The UKGC is making it clear it will no longer tolerate such failures. Its fining policy is becoming stricter, and the amounts are steadily rising. The regulator now even considers a company’s revenue when determining the size of a fine. This shift is evident in the reform of the penalty policy, which places revenue at the center.
Behind-the-scenes deals and criticism of how fines are handled
Not everyone is convinced everything is being handled fairly. There are rumors that some companies manage to get away with a deal. This raises questions: does the regulator sometimes protect big names over players?
The very idea that backroom deals exist to shield operators from harsher penalties has angered critics. And to be fair, after so many fines and scandals, public trust is already fragile.
Why this matters for players
For the average player, this may seem distant. A company gets fined so what? But don’t forget that if an operator fails to act responsibly, you as a player may be the one who suffers. Money can disappear, or you may find yourself caught up in practices you’d rather avoid.