Aristocrat Interactive’s UK White-Label iGaming Operations Will Cease

Aristocrat Interactive is reportedly set to shut down its white-label casino offering in the UK that it operates via Aspire Global, ahead of an impending online casino tax increase.

Aspire Global UK is said to have sent account closure notices to affiliate partners following a number of shutdowns at Aspire Global’s casino operations. This comes after a review of Aristocrat Interactive’s white-label operations, where the supplier decided this was not core to its growth strategy. Aspire Global’s UK casino will cease operations on June 30.

The move come ahead of the introduction of an increase in tax for online casino operators in the UK; a core market for Aspire Global. From April 1, 2026, remote gaming duty, paid on online casino bets, will rise from 21% to 40% of gross gaming yield (GGY).

There will be a further increase for operators who also offer sports betting, as general betting duty, paid on online sports betting, will go up from 15% to 25% of GGY. Aspire Global provides sportsbook proprietary games as part of its B2B offering.

It is currently unclear whether Aristocrat Interactive will shut down its online casino in other markets. Betting.co.uk has reached out to Aristocrat Interactive for comment.

“Highest growth priorities”

Aristocrat Interactive, which is one of three business units operated by parent company Aristocrat Leisure, has not addressed the upcoming tax increase as a specific reason behind its decision to shut down its white-label casino in the UK. Instead, it mentioned how it wants to “ensure that the business is fully focused on its highest growth priorities” of iLottery, content and aggregation, gaming systems, iGaming and sports.

An Aristocrat Interactive spokesperson is quoted by iGBA as saying:

“Aristocrat Interactive confirms it is planning to cease offering white-label iGaming services to customers. This change is expected to be effective 30 June 2026, subject to appropriate customer consultation and any regulatory requirements.

“As we are planning to exit the market, we will work with partners to address any remaining contracted arrangements and support a smooth process for our partners and players.

"This follows a review of Aristocrat Interactive’s white-label operations, which determined that these are not core to its growth strategy. This change will help ensure that the business is fully focused on its highest growth priorities.”

What is Aspire Global?

Aspire Global was founded in 2005 and offers businesses the opportunity to launch and operate online casinos, including its own proprietary technology platform.

In 2022, Aspire Global was acquired by online lottery platform provider NeoGames for SEK4.3 billion (£344.1 million). NeoGames was then acquired by Aristocrat Leisure for $1.2 billion (£958.9 million), with the deal completing in 2024.

Coincidental timing

Aristocrat Leisure’s decision to not elaborate on exactly why white-label operations is not seen as a core part of its growth strategy leaves the reasons behind its decision very much open to interpretation, but the timing seems coincidental ahead of the tax changes in the UK.

It is widely expected one of the knock-on effects of the tax increase will be that it will push smaller operators out of the market and reduce competition.

There is an argument that newer entrants to the market, such as Midnite, may not struggle with the impact in the same way as more established operators, as they will not have the need to downsize existing large operations, but it will still require significant funding to compete with tier-one operators in the long-term.

For smaller brands without the funding, and with expected cutbacks to any marketing those brands already carry out, they are likely to find it far more challenging to survive in the UK market, and this in turn can have an impact on business for the likes of Aspire Global.