The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has suspended an online operator for failing to integrate the GAMSTOP self-exclusion scheme.
From 3 November, Lebom Limited, trading as lebom.app, has been suspended from operating until the regulator is satisfied that GAMSTOP has been successfully integrated.
Lebom is a weekly football predictor game that combines group chats with social betting.Using the app, a group of friends can predict the results of Premier League matches and put money into the pot, effectively placing a wager against each other. Whoever scores the most points at the end of the round of fixtures wins the money from the pot.
The app is rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 44 user ratings. The customer-facing desktop website currently displays the GAMSTOP logo at the bottom of the page.
The UKGC has also commenced a review of Lebom’s operating licence.
GAMSTOP is used by at-risk gamblers who wish to block themselves from all UK-licensed gambling apps and websites to prevent further harm.UKGC executive director Kay Roberts: “It is simply unacceptable for any online operator to fail to integrate with the [GAMSTOP] scheme.”
Integration with the software has been a mandatory licensing condition since 2020.
The Commission said Lebom must ensure that it treats consumers fairly for the duration of its suspension and must also keep users informed of further developments.
Kay Roberts, executive director of operations at the Gambling Commission, said: “GAMSTOP provides a crucial service for people who feel they are suffering gambling harm.
“It is simply unacceptable for any online operator to fail to integrate with the scheme.”
The suspension does not prevent Lebom from allowing customers to access their accounts to withdraw funds.
More than 300,000 people in the UK are registered with GAMSTOP as of July 2022.
