Celton Manx Fined £3.9 Million by Isle of Man Regulator for AML Failures

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has issued a civil penalty of £3,937,500 to Celton Manx Limited, the parent company of the online sportsbook brand SBOTOP. The fine follows an investigation into the operator’s compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing obligations, standards that apply to all licensed online gambling sites operating under the island’s regulatory framework.

The GSC found that Celton Manx failed to demonstrate sufficient risk assessments, ongoing customer monitoring, and proper identity verification procedures. These shortcomings were determined to be in breach of section 19 of the island’s Gambling (Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism) Act 2018.

The investigation also noted a lack of adequate procedures for handling suspicious activity, conducting technology risk assessments, and staff training related to AML compliance.

Fine Reduced Following Cooperation

The original fine was set at £5.625 million. However, the total was reduced by 30% after the GSC considered mitigating factors, including cooperation from Celton Manx and its efforts to resolve the matter. The company acknowledged the issues during the investigation and entered into settlement discussions with the regulator.

Celton Manx has stated that it did not identify any instances of money laundering during its internal reviews.

Licence Surrendered in May 2025

In May 2025, before the conclusion of the GSC’s investigation, Celton Manx voluntarily surrendered its gambling licence after holding it for 17 years. Around the same time, TGP Europe, which operated the SBOTOP brand in the UK under a white-label agreement with Celton Manx, ended its operations in the UK.

Additional Fines Issued to SK IOM

SK IOM Limited, which operated the BetInvite brand, was also fined by the GSC for AML-related failings. The civil penalty issued was £70,000, reduced from an initial £100,000. According to the GSC, SK IOM did not ensure that those responsible for AML and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) duties had the required level of seniority, expertise, or resources. The company also failed to demonstrate effective monitoring or testing of its AML/CFT systems.

The BetInvite platform ceased accepting bets on July 2, 2025.

Regulator Clarifies Licensing Policy

In a separate announcement, the GSC stated that it has an "extremely limited appetite" for granting licences to operators linked to East and Southeast Asia. The statement was published as part of a wider policy review, citing concerns about the potential for criminal connections in high-risk jurisdictions.The update reflects the regulator’s broader approach to tightening oversight of online gambling licenses, particularly where emerging risks or cross-border financial activity is involved. It follows an internal risk assessment and ongoing global investigations into financial crimes linked to gambling operators.

Broader Context

The GSC currently oversees approximately 80 active online gambling licensees. In June, the Isle of Man Constabulary reported that ten international money laundering investigations were underway, with estimated assets worth around £300 million frozen. These investigations are understood to involve online gambling businesses based on the island.

Mark Rutherford, who was appointed CEO of the GSC in January 2025, previously served as Deputy CEO and Director of Policy and Legislation since 2013. The GSC has since launched several initiatives to address evolving compliance risks, including training sessions focused on identifying signs of modern slavery.

Summary

Celton Manx has been fined £3.9 million by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission after the regulator identified a range of AML compliance failings. The company no longer holds a licence on the island, and associated operations such as SBOTOP and BetInvite have also undergone changes. The GSC continues to review its policies and licensing procedures amid broader concerns about financial crime risks linked to the gambling industry.