UK Gambling Commission Applies Penalty for Self-Exclusion Scheme Breach

The UK Gambling Commission has imposed a £150,000 fine on Holland Park Leisure Limited after the operator failed to join a mandatory multi-operator self-exclusion scheme at its three adult gaming centres in Leicester city centre, and the breach involved Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.6 which requires participation in such schemes to protect consumers from gambling-related harm.

Officials determined that Holland Park Leisure Limited received earlier warnings about the requirement yet took no remedial steps and also supplied misleading information during the regulatory process before the company joined the scheme once the licence review had already begun.

Details of the Licence Review Process

The Commission initiated a formal review of the operator's licence after identifying the ongoing non-compliance and during that review Holland Park Leisure Limited eventually registered with the required multi-operator self-exclusion scheme which allows individuals to exclude themselves from multiple venues simultaneously through a single request.

Records show the three adult gaming centres operated by the company had remained outside the scheme despite the code provision being in force and the regulator had previously notified the operator of the obligation to participate.

Actions Taken by the Regulator

Commission staff examined evidence that included the initial warnings the company received along with documentation showing the misleading statements provided in response to inquiries and the eventual corrective action occurred only after the review proceedings started.

The sanction decision references the specific code provision 3.5.6 and confirms the £150,000 penalty reflects the seriousness of failing to maintain the required consumer protection measures at land-based venues.

Further details appear in the published sanction summary which outlines the timeline from the initial warnings through to the licence review and the subsequent compliance.

Consumer Protection Requirements for Land-Based Venues

The multi-operator self-exclusion scheme forms part of the broader framework that land-based gambling operators must follow and participation enables individuals to request exclusion from all participating venues through one central process rather than approaching each location separately.

Holland Park Leisure Limited operates three adult gaming centres in Leicester city centre and the failure to join the scheme meant customers at those locations could not access the coordinated exclusion option until the company completed registration after the review began.

The Commission enforces these provisions consistently across both remote and non-remote licence holders and the case against Holland Park Leisure Limited demonstrates the application of the rules to physical gaming centres.

Outcome and Compliance Confirmation

Following the start of the licence review the operator completed the necessary steps to join the mandatory scheme and the Commission recorded the compliance as part of the final sanction determination.

The published decision confirms that the fine addresses both the initial failure to join and the additional issue of providing misleading information during the regulatory engagement.

Conclusion

The case concludes with the £150,000 penalty standing as the formal outcome for the identified breaches of Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.6 at the three Leicester adult gaming centres operated by Holland Park Leisure Limited and the details remain available through the Gambling Commission public register for review by interested parties.