UK Gambling Commission Levies £150,000 Penalty on Holland Park Leisure for Self-Exclusion Scheme Violations

Background on the Regulatory Action

The UK Gambling Commission has imposed a £150,000 fine on Holland Park Leisure Limited after the operator failed to join the mandatory multi-operator self-exclusion scheme at its three licensed adult gaming centres in Leicester city centre, and the commission documented that the company had received prior warnings about non-compliance with Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.6 yet took no corrective steps while also supplying misleading information to regulators.

According to the commission's published decision, the operator's licence faced suspension in October 2025 because the business continued to operate outside the required scheme that allows individuals to exclude themselves from multiple venues through a single registration, and this suspension remained in place until the operator demonstrated progress toward full adherence.

Details of the Non-Compliance

Holland Park Leisure Limited operates three premises subject to the licensing conditions that require participation in the multi-operator self-exclusion programme, which enables customers to block access across different operators through one central process, and the commission found that none of the sites had enrolled in the scheme despite repeated reminders and direct instructions issued by the regulator.

The commission's records show that staff at the premises continued to accept customers who had self-excluded elsewhere because the operator had not implemented the necessary data-sharing connections, and internal checks revealed gaps in both policy documentation and day-to-day procedures that should have flagged these exclusions automatically.

Investigators noted that when the commission first contacted the company about the missing participation, Holland Park Leisure Limited supplied statements that later proved inaccurate regarding the status of its enrolment, and those statements delayed the regulatory review until further evidence gathering confirmed the ongoing breach.

Requirements Following the Suspension

Following the October 2025 suspension, the operator was required to commission an independent third-party audit covering its full suite of policies, procedures, implementation methods and staff training programmes, and the audit must verify that the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme is now active at all three Leicester locations with proper staff awareness and technical integration.

The commission stipulated that the audit report must be submitted within a defined timeframe and that any identified deficiencies must be addressed before the licences can return to full operational status, while ongoing monitoring will check that the scheme remains embedded in daily operations rather than treated as a one-off compliance exercise.

Broader Context of the Enforcement

The Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.6 forms part of the licensing conditions that all holders of gambling operating licences must meet, and it specifically requires participation in the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme to protect individuals who have chosen to restrict their gambling activity across multiple venues, and the commission has applied similar enforcement measures to other operators that delayed or avoided enrolment.

Data from the commission indicates that thousands of individuals currently use the national self-exclusion register, and the scheme relies on accurate and timely participation by every licensed premises to function effectively across different operators and geographic areas.

Next Steps and Ongoing Obligations

Holland Park Leisure Limited must now complete the mandated audit and demonstrate sustained compliance with the self-exclusion requirements, and the commission has stated that any future breaches of the same code provision will trigger further regulatory action that could include additional financial penalties or extended licence restrictions.

The decision notice remains available on the commission's public register, and it outlines the timeline of warnings, the misleading information provided, and the final settlement that includes both the £150,000 fine and the audit obligation.

Conclusion

The case illustrates how the commission enforces participation in the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme through progressive regulatory steps that begin with warnings and can escalate to licence suspension and financial penalties when operators fail to act, and it underscores the requirement that all licensed premises maintain accurate records and respond transparently to regulatory enquiries.