The UK Gambling Commission
(UKGC) has revealed that outgoing CEO Jenny Williams will remain in the position until September, due to “the protracted timescale related to making government-related public announcements.”
EGR Magazine has reported that although UKGC has identified its preferred candidate to take over Williams, the recruitment process is now on hold until after the UK General Election on May 7.
Williams has agreed to remain in her role until the commission appoints her successor and is expected to give support to the new CEO in key areas such as remote gambling regulation.
Meanwhile, hundreds of punters fear that they could lose their money as 666Bet remains offline and has not paid out customers’ winnings.
666Bet’s license has been suspended after one of its directors was arrested in connection with a £21m fraud and money laundering investigation.
“It’s really not a very good situation. I’ve been quite stressed about it… There has been no information,” said Richard Magee from Birmingham, who told the Independent he’d deposited £2,848 on 666Bet.
“While remote operators licensed by the [UKGC] must keep customer funds in a separate account or accounts, there is no guarantee that this will ensure that customers get all their money back if the company runs into financial difficulties,” said a UKGC spokesperson.
The commission also said that punters use online bookmakers “at their own risk” and it was not within the regulator’s “remit to recover funds.”
