Regulator to probe online bets dispute

Commission promises balanced review

The Island's e-gaming regulator says it is aware of complaints made about Manx-registered online-betting firms.

Police say they were inundated with calls over the weekend from online gamblers complaining that local companies were withholding  payment on bets placed at the Cheltenham Festival.

The firms 138.com, 12Bet, Fun88.co.uk and TLC Bet have said they took the step because of suspicious transactions.

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission, responsible for licensing the companies, has confirmed it is investigating. 

The GSC will gather information from both customers and licensees in a two-stage inquiry expected to take 'some time'.

All parties have been promised an opportunity to state their case, and the Commission says it will make a recommendation to resolve the issue once all the evidence has been reviewed.

There has been no comment yet from Douglas-based Xela Holdings which operates the gaming brands.

Island police have referred complaints to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre in the UK.