Petfre Fined £240,000 Over Online Slot Failures

_{The UK Gambling Commission has fined Betfred’s operator after finding slot games breached fair play standards. (Image: UK Gambling Commission)}

The UK Gambling Commission has fined Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited, the company behind Betfred.com and Oddsking.com, £240,000 after some of its online slot games were found to breach Remote Technical Standards (RTS).

Regulators said the games failed to display players’ net positions and, in some cases, celebrated losses as though they were wins. These practices, the Commission warned, could mislead players and impair decision-making.

Under RTS rules, online gambling operators must ensure that:
    •    Games clearly show a player’s net position during play.
    •    Gambling systems do not celebrate returns that are less than or equal to the original stake.

The Commission said the failure to meet these requirements undermined fair play and consumer protection.

Swift Action but Repeat Offenses

After the issues were identified, Petfre decommissioned all affected games immediately. Despite the quick response, the incident marks the second enforcement action against the operator in recent years.

In 2022, Petfre was fined £2.87 million for failings in social responsibility and anti-money laundering controls.

John Pierce, the Commission’s director of enforcement, said:

 “Features that impair a consumer’s ability to make informed decisions are not appropriate and pose a clear risk."

“While we acknowledge the operator acted swiftly to remove the affected games, this enforcement action should serve as a clear signal to the wider industry to review and strengthen their compliance practices, and to ensure that gameplay is fair and consumers are not exposed to unnecessary risk.” 

Industry Implications and Player Protection

The ruling highlights the Commission’s increasing focus on game design, not just financial and social responsibility controls. By cracking down on misleading slot features, regulators aim to ensure greater transparency and prevent practices that could encourage harmful gambling.

For players, the case serves as a reminder that not all games are designed fairly and that regulators are closely monitoring the industry. For operators, the message is clear: technical design choices can carry significant consequences, just as much as financial or compliance failures.

Casinos.com experts stress that players should always check whether a casino is licensed by the UK Gambling Commission and read game terms carefully before playing. Transparent design and fair play are central to safer gambling experiences.