Stake, the main sponsor of the F1 team Sauber since last year, has come under fire from the UK Gambling Commission after an advertisement for the online casino was seen in a video featuring adult film actress Bonnie Blue.
Linking gambling to pornography is prohibited. As a result, the action group End Gambling Ads filed a complaint with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), which was successful. The final closure of Stake.uk.com, the British website of the online casino, will take place on March 11, 2025.
In a statement, the Gambling Commission said, “The move follows the launch of a commission investigation into a widely viewed video featuring the Stake logo, which was distributed on a social media platform and featured an adult actress outside Nottingham Trent University.” The post that was published on X has since been removed.
Name Change
During the races in Bahrain, Brazil, China, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates, Sauber, registered as the Stake F1 Team, will be known as the Kick F1 Team. In these countries, it is prohibited to advertise gambling companies.
The British Grand Prix could also be added to that list. Title sponsor Stake, according to the commission, is surrendering its license to operate in the UK.
Previously Under Fire
The operator of Stake.uk.com, TGP Europe Limited, has previously come under fire from British authorities. In 2023, it was fined £316,250 for not promoting responsible gambling and not preventing money laundering. “TGP has previously been the subject of enforcement actions, and after a meeting with the commission, they have stated that they will immediately stop accepting new registrations on the Stake.uk.com platform and remove redirect links from Stake’s main website.”
