Shares in 888 Holdings (888) fell around 8 per cent in early trading on 16 May after the company revealed that the UK Gambling Commission had initiated an investigation into its social responsibility policies. The regulator is focusing on how effective 888's self-exclusion tools are for gamblers wishing to block themselves from the site for a set period of time. The gambling company stated that it is dedicated to providing customers with a "responsible, as well as enjoyable gaming experience". Gambling companies have come under scrutiny from the regulator in recent years, and a review by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has yet to reveal its findings on the perceived harm caused by fixed-odds betting terminals.
A likely outcome of the review could be a fine on 888 Holdings, although it is difficult to predict the amount of this penalty. In June last year Betfred paid more than £800,000 in compensation towards socially responsible causes as part of a regulatory settlement following a review of its licence. The same year both Gala Coral and Paddy Power paid fines of £846,000 and £280,000, respectively, and were made to improve how they catch those involved with money laundering. Mecca Bingo, part of Rank, paid around £950,000 and revised its anti-money-laundering arrangements in 2015. While these scenarios help give a snapshot of the possible size of the fee, they revolve around where the money is coming from rather than self-exclusion.