The Labour party's chair, Bridget Phillipson, has urged the Gambling Commission to investigate claims that companies linked to Reform UK donors and allies of Nigel Farage have been operating without a licence. Ms Phillipson has written to the watchdog, asking it to examine Tether.bet, a Montenegro-based gambling company, and Fispay, a UK company owned by Reform's data protection officer, Mowbray Jackson.
The request follows reports by the Sunday Times that both companies had been operating without a licence. Ms Phillipson's letter specifically asks the commission to investigate whether Tether.bet and its operators provided or advertised remote gambling facilities to UK consumers without a licence, and whether Fispay Ltd or any other UK company provided or supported gambling facilities or services in the UK without the required licence.
It is against the law to provide gambling facilities without a licence in the UK under the Gambling Act 2005. Mowbray Jackson told the Sunday Times his company exclusively brokered private jet travel and had never provided gambling facilities. George Cottrell, an ally of Nigel Farage, is linked to Tether.bet, which issued a closure notice on its website on 12 August. Mr Cottrell's lawyers stated he was a customer of Tether.bet and has never solicited clients for any betting company.