Online gamblers are accusing the owners of a series of gaming websites based in the Isle of Man of closing their accounts and withholding funds.
It’s being reported that 138.com, 12Bet, Fun88.co.uk and TLCbet have sent emails to thousands of customers suggesting they have abused the sites’ promotions systems in relation to deals offered during the Cheltenham Festival.
One affected customer contacted the iomtoday newsroom this afternoon to highlight the issue.
The news is widespread on Twitter and the UK’s Mirror website has ran a story on the situation this afternoon, including details of a punter who is being denied access to £2,600 from accounts with all four companies.
TLCbet, fun88 and 12bet are all listed on the Isle of Man Government website as ‘current licence holders of the Gambling Supervision Commission’ with online licensee TGP Limited.
A reporter has called TGP Europe Limited, which is based in Athol House, Douglas, for comment but no one was available. We are awaiting their response.
Xela Limited is listed as the license holder for 138.com. We have attempted to contact chief executive officer Garth Kimber, a former head of egaming with the Manx government, but were unable to get through.
The Isle of Man’s Gambling Supervision Commission issued a short statement at 5pm. It read: ‘I can confirm that the Gambling Supervision Commission is aware of the matter, however it is standard policy for the Gambling Supervision Commission not to comment on regulatory or compliance matters relating to its licensed operators.’