Paddy Power Betfair Fined £2m Following Regulatory Investigation
Published on by Becky M.
17 December 2025 – Paddy Power Betfair has been issued a £2 million fine following a Gambling Commission investigation that revealed shortcomings in social responsibility in customer interaction. The settlement covers four remote operating businesses trading under the Paddy Power and Betfair brands:
PPB Entertainment Limited
PPB Counterparty Services Limited
Betfair Casino Limited
TSE Malta LP
The UKGC assessment concluded the operators’ systems did not intervene early enough when customers showed clear signs of risk.
Paddy Power Betfair Social responsibility failures
One customer deposited £12,000 over 15 days before any review was initiated. According to the Commission, this level of spending should have been detected much earlier, and the delay meant significant activity occurred without intervention.
Another customer deposited £25,000 in 25 days, receiving no interaction until almost a month of sustained high spending had passed.
Another case saw a customer stake £86,000 over 16 days and lost £6,000 in the process. Despite the speed and scale of the transactions, no manual review was carried out. The Commission noted this as evidence of system failure to flag obvious indicators of risk.
The investigation also identified a customer whose gambling pattern displayed sharp spikes of activity over a 17-day period. The most extended session lasted 7 hours and 46 minutes, during which the customer placed more than 300 bets totalling £20,000. Their behaviour was not identified until they reached a defined loss threshold, even though earlier sessions displayed clear warning signs.
This is the second time Paddy Power Betfair has faced regulatory action of this nature. In 2023, the operator was fined £490,000 for marketing to vulnerable individuals.
Learning Curve for the Industry
The Commission said the sector should treat this case as an opportunity for wider learning and review their own processes accordingly.
John Pierce, the Commission’s Director of Enforcement, said:
“The £2 million Paddy Power Betfair fine reflects the seriousness of the failings identified and the importance of meeting social responsibility and customer interaction standards.
“Our compliance assessment in 2024 uncovered examples where interactions fell far short of what is required. These failings should never have occurred. While the licensees co-operated fully with the investigation, accepted the failings early, and implemented an action plan quickly, this immediate response is the minimum we expect from operators when serious shortcomings are identified.
“Operators must ensure systems to identify and address harm work effectively and at the right time. Over-reliance on automation and failure to intervene when clear indicators of harm are present expose consumers to unnecessary risk. Where we find failings, we will act decisively to protect players.”