Spribe Expects to Resume UK Operations in November Following Suspension

Spribe expects to be live again in the UK by the end of November, after regulator the Gambling Commission suspended the supplier’s license for failure to obtain a hosting license.

The Gambling Commission announced Spribe OÜ’s operating license is suspended while it carries out a review under Section 118 (2) of the Gambling Act 2005, due to “serious” non-compliance with the hosting requirements of the Commission’s licensing framework.

Spribe has held a remote operating license in the UK since late 2020, but was recently informed by the Commission it needs to add a hosting license to its existing one. Spribe is unable to operate in the UK until that license is obtained.

What is a hosting license?

The Commission describes a hosting license as being required for “gambling software businesses which provide facilities for remote gambling by making their games available to customers of other operators.”

What this means is the software business may sometimes host casino games on its own servers, providing the service directly to players, rather than via its operator partners. The game can be accessed by players from several operators at a time. Before a supplier can carry out this activity, it is required to apply for a hosting license on top of its operating license.

The Commission said: “We have clearly communicated to the operator that all hosting activity must stop immediately unless and until a suitable hosting licence is obtained.

“Under Section 33 of the Gambling Act 2005, it is a criminal offence to provide facilities for gambling in Great Britain without a licence from the Gambling Commission, unless a specific exemption applies.”

Spribe responds

It appears Spribe was unaware of this requirement. In a statement sent to Betting.co.uk, Spribe said:

“Spribe has held a remote operating license in the UK market since late 2020 and has complied with all its terms, including annual audits, regulatory returns, and transparent communication with the UKGC [Gambling Commission] regarding any questions or concerns throughout all these years.

“It only came to our attention last week from the UKGC that, due to our technical setup, we need to add a hosting license to our existing one. Until we obtain this license, the Commission, at its discretion, opted to suspend our current remote operating license.”

It is currently unclear as to how long Spribe has been hosting games on its own servers and to what extent it has breached the Gambling Commission’s regulations. Betting.co.uk has asked Spribe for clarification.

November resumption targeted

Spribe has made a name for itself in the industry in the short time it has been in operation. While Spribe provides several casino games, it is best known for its Aviator crash game product. Access to this game is now blocked on UK operator sites.

In 2023, Spribe entered a marketing partnership with mixed martial arts organisation Ultimate Fighting Championship. Spribe’s branding has been on show at UFC Pay-Per-Views and Fight Nights. This was quite an unusual move for a gaming supplier, as these types of promotions are usually carried out by B2C companies.

Despite the current suspension, Spribe is currently going through the process to obtain a hosting license and does not expect to be suspended from the UK market for long. “We are taking all necessary steps to comply with the Commission's requirements and expect to reinstate the delivery of Aviator to the UK market in the upcoming month,” the company said.