Sami Kurvinen 
Big Daddy Gaming Granted a UKGC License
Big Daddy Gaming is the latest slot developer to receive a UKGC license, meaning it will soon make…
Entain demands another way to combat illegal gambling
Illegal casinos in the UK, which are operators that lack a valid UKGC license, are a growing headache for all legitimate companies, as the black market is constantly growing and taking market share.
In an attempt to make it more difficult for these black-market casinos to target UK customers, Entain has demanded that the UKIPO stop approving unlicensed gambling trademarks.
Who are Entain?
Entain plc is one of the world’s largest betting and gaming groups and owns some of the most popular and famous brands in the UK market.
These brands include Ladbrokes, Coral, Sportingbet, Bwin and many others.
The company employs over 24,000 people and is publicly listed.
What are Entain demanding exactly?
Brands without a valid UKGC license are not allowed to target players from Great Britain. They are breaking the law if they allow UK players to register accounts, deposit, and play at these sites.
So, why are these companies allowed to apply for and be granted UK trademarks for these brands?
Entain is demanding that brands lacking a valid UK license be denied a UK trademark.
UKIPO responds
Who should be allowed to register betting-related brand names?
A UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) official, Williams, said that when they look at a trademark application, they only check the name or logo itself. They don’t check whether the company has a gambling licence or how the company will use the trademark.
They are basically saying that they judge the name or logo, not the company applying for the UK trademark.
Who are the UKIPO?
The UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) is a UK government organisation that helps protect people’s ideas and creations.
Its main jobs are:
- Patents – protecting new inventions so others can’t copy them without permission.
- Trademarks – protecting brand names, logos, and slogans.
- Designs – protecting how products look, including their shape and appearance.
- Copyright – providing rules and guidance to protect original books, music, art, films, and other creative work.
The UKIPO is part of the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and helps inventors, creators, and businesses protect and make money from their ideas.
How will this demand combat illegal gambling in the UK?
Entain is saying that if unlicensed betting companies cannot register trademarks, people may see them as less trustworthy, which could make it harder for those companies to do business.
The status of illegal gambling in the UK
The estimated size of the illegal (black market) in the UK varies by source, but some reports indicate it accounts for roughly 9% of the UK’s total online betting market.
The annual stakes placed with illegal sites are estimated to range from £17 billion to £33 billion and are growing every year.
