Betfred Owner Fined £240K for “Losses as Wins” Slot Breach : GamblersPost

If your slot game cheers while you lose, something’s off. That’s exactly what happened with several online slots run by Petfre (Gibraltar) Limited, the operator behind Betfred and Oddsking.com. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)  hit the company with a £240,000 fine for failing to meet Remote Technical Standards (RTS). The issue? Some games didn’t show players their true net position, and triggered celebrations, even when players were losing overall.

That’s a big red flag. The RTS clearly states that:

1. A player’s net position must be visible.

2. Games must not celebrate any return that’s less than or equal to the stake.

By breaking those rules, Petfre’s games made it harder for players to understand whether they were actually winning — or just being entertained into losing more.

The Commission said these flashy effects “impair players’ ability to interpret gameplay and make informed decisions.”

Petfre acted fast, removing the faulty titles and shutting down non-compliant features. But regulators decided the damage was done. Result: £240,000 down the drain — and a headline lesson for the whole industry.

Lessons From the 2021 Slot Crackdown

This isn’t new territory. Back in 2021, the Commission already banned several risky slot features, including  Auto-play, Spin speeds under 2.5 seconds, and “Losses disguised as wins” celebrations.

Former GC CEO Neil McArthur made it clear at the time:

“Evidence shows these features increase the risk of harm to customers.”

In other words, excitement shouldn’t cloud judgment. A slot that cheers your losses doesn’t promote entertainment, it blurs reality. When Petfre hosted games that broke these rules, it didn’t just cross a line — it walked straight past a flashing neon warning.

Enforcement Director’s Verdict: No Excuses, No Exceptions

John Pierce, the Commission’s Director of Enforcement, didn’t mince words.

“Game features that impair informed decisions are not appropriate. They pose a clear risk.”

He acknowledged Petfre’s quick fix — but said action was unavoidable.  “This fine should be a clear signal to the entire industry,” he added. “Review your compliance practices. Make sure gameplay is fair. Don’t expose consumers to unnecessary risk.” So while Petfre’s response was swift, its systems weren’t sharp enough to stop the breach in the first place.

A Repeat Offender: Petfre’s Compliance Record

This isn’t Petfre’s first brush with the regulator. In September 2022, the company paid £2.9 million for social responsibility and AML failures. Now, with this latest fine, the message is clear: repeat slip-ups come with real consequences. And Petfre isn’t alone. Other operators have recently been caught in the compliance net:

From Lottomart to Playmagical, regulators are showing no mercy. The days of “oops, we’ll patch it” are gone.

Transparency or Trouble

The Betfred case is a wake-up call. Today’s players expect — and deserve — honesty on the reels. Operators must show true net results, not smoke and mirrors, keep celebrations real, not misleading and monitor compliance proactively, not reactively. Because when gameplay feels rigged, trust folds — fast. And in 2025’s market, trust is the only jackpot that matters.