666BET: A damaging month of mixed messages

This time last year 666BET was preparing to launch into the UK market, buoyed by a marketing campaign fronted by high-profile football manager Harry Redknapp and promising to take on the big boys of sports betting.

After making the headlines with an eye-catching World Cup offer and the acquisition of MetroPlay, the operator appeared to be making progress.

Fast forward to last month and the outlook looks decidedly less rosy. In late March eGaming Review reported that one on 666BET’s directors, the Isle of Man-based entrepreneur Paul Bell, had been arrested on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

And while Bell has since been released on bail without charge, 666BET, despite distancing itself from any wrongdoing, has been dragged into the mire with both of its licences revoked and customers’ inability to withdraw funds making the national news.

What has followed has been a confusing exchange of claims and counter-claims between the operator and the GB Gambling Commission, with no sign yet of 666BET being able to return cash to its disgruntled customers.

The operator must now act swiftly to resolve its issues and most importantly for its customers and the sector’s reputation, return funds to their rightful owners.

Here’s the story so far of 666BET’s rapid decline:

March 21: 666BET releases statements on site downtime

“Due to unforeseen circumstances our site is now under maintenance. We hope it will be back online soon. Apologies for any inconvenience this has caused.”

“We apologise for the continued downtime of the website. Please be patient and we will announce very soon how to withdraw funds.”

March 23: Metro Play and 666BET licences suspended

The operating licences of Metro Play were suspended by the gambling regulators of the UK and Alderney due to “serious concerns” regarding the company’s current control and management.

The UK Gambling Commission and the Alderney Gambling Control Commission issued statements that Metro Play, trading as metroplay.com and 666bet.com, was under review by the regulators and both sites have since been temporarily suspended.

March 25: 666BET updates customers on site shutdown

“We hope to have an update for our customers as soon as possible with regards how to withdraw their funds. We sincerely apologise for the continued downtime of our site and hope to have this problem rectified asap. We will update you as soon as we have more information. Thank you.”

March 30: 666BET director arrested in £21m fraud probe

News broke that 666BET director Paul Bell had been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into multiple fraud and money laundering offences.

Speaking to eGaming Review, an employee at the operator confirmed Bell was one of seven men to have been detained by officers in both the UK and the Isle of Man in relation to a multi-jurisdictional probe being carried out by the UK HM Revenue & Customs, Isle of Man Constabulary (IOMC), Cheshire Constabulary and Guernsey Border Agency.

April 1: 666BET director released on bail

Police confirmed Paul Bell had been released on bail along with six other suspects, pending further enquiries.

April 2: 666BET asks for patience

“Apologies for the delay in communications. We are trying to resolve the current situation regarding our licence and get back online asap so customers can withdraw their money as easily as possible. Please be patient although we understand your frustrations and concerns.”

April 13: Confusion over customer repayment process

666BET said it was “doing all it can” to return funds to its customers after an online petition which called for the return of customer monies was launched.

The firm said customers would be able to access their accounts and withdraw funds once it had received approval from the Gambling Commission.

However a spokesperson for the Gambling Commission said there was no restriction on the operator being able to release the funds to customers immediately, and certainly ahead of any decision being made on its licensing status.

April 15: 666BET rejects Gambling Commission payment claim

666BET hit back at allegations it is withholding customer funds, describing a statement released by the British regulator on the issue as “misleading”.

In a statement of its own, the operator said it had been unable to return funds following a number of third-party contract cancellations, including those with payment providers.

It also said that in order for customer to access their accounts and request withdrawals, the 666BET site would need to be back up and running with the firm currently waiting on the Gambling Commission to authorise a white-label arrangement.

April 16: Customer petition hits the headlines

Following the launch of an online petition by 666BET customers unable to access their funds, the UK’s ITV news channel runs a story featuring an interview with a customer reportedly owed £900 but who claimed others are owed as much as £20,000 and £60,000.

April 17: 666BET switches blame to third-party confusion

666BET releases a statement explaining it is exploring “alternative routes” to pay customers after the Gambling Commission revealed it has not been asked to authorise any white label deal, a green light the operator said it had been waiting for.

The firm said it had been “reliably and explicitly informed on several occasions” by the third-party that it was waiting on the regulator to approve the white-label deal.

“The UKGC have now informed us that this is not the case,” a statement released by the operator said.

The company it would be making a further announcement on Monday 20 April.