Spribe OÜ has issued a statement regarding the suspension of its UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) licence, clarifying that the issue stems from a technical lapse instead of any operational wrongdoing.
The Tallinn and Tbilisi-headquartered games developer told iGaming Expert that it is undertaking “diligent and as expeditious” efforts to resolve the matter, having held a UK remote gambling software licence since 2020.
Earlier this week, the UKGC released a statement declaring that Spribe had been hosting casino games on behalf of operators without the appropriate remote casino game host licence.
Under Section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005, it is a criminal offence to provide gambling facilities in Great Britain without the correct authorisation. The Commission has ordered that all hosting activity must “strictly stop” until the appropriate permissions have been secured, reiterating its “strong approach to unlicensed gambling activity” and its expectation of “the highest level of compliance and integrity from licensees.”
In a statement issued to iGamingExpert, Spribe acknowledged the regulator’s position, describing the issue as “a technical licensing gap” that was not recognised during its original 2020 application.
“Spribe applied for and was given a remote gambling software licence in 2020. However, our business model also requires a remote casino game host licence. That is a technical licensing issue that was not recognised in the original application process in 2020.”
A licence variation application is now being prepared by Spribe, adding in the required permissions for remote casino game hosting, while the company is also working “urgently to ensure full technical and legal compliance.”
Spribe’s portfolio includes its flagship crash game Aviator, as well as titles such as Mines, Dice and Hi-Lo. Its content is distributed through several major UK-licensed operators, including Paddy Power, 888casino, BetVictor, Genting Casino and BetMGM.
The company also sought to reassure its clients and consumers, confirming that the suspension “does not affect players’ ability to access their accounts or withdraw funds” and that there is “no evidence of consumer harm” related to its UK activities.
Closing its statement, Spribe reaffirmed its commitment to compliance, transparency and software integrity across all regulated markets.
“Spribe has always complied with all regulatory requirements of the gambling software licence issued to us in the UK during five years of service to the British market. We are hopeful that the Commission can approve the application promptly and that we can resume business in the UK market as soon as possible.”
The UKGC’s action highlights its increasing scrutiny of B2B suppliers and technical providers, signalling that enforcement will no longer be confined to consumer-facing operators as the regulator intensifies oversight across the wider UK gambling ecosystem.
By Ted Menmuir