British Gambling Commission suspends BresBet and Bet St George licences
The regulator said the linked operators’ licences have been suspended pending enquiries into suspected regulatory failings.
UK.- The British Gambling Commission has announced that it has suspended the operating licences of BresBet Ltd, which runs bresbet.com, and Bet St George Ltd, which operates betstgeorge.com. It said the decision was taken after enquiries revealed suspected social responsibility and anti-money laundering failings.
The regulator said it is now carrying out a review of both licences under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005 and that the suspension will remain in place until it’s satisfied the businesses are compliant.
“It has been made clear to both operators that during the course of the suspension they are expected to treat consumers fairly and keep them fully informed of any developments which impact them,” the Gambling Commission stated.
The suspension, which takes place immediately, does not prevent either operator from allowing consumers to access their accounts and withdrawing funds. Both businesses can be contacted through their websites, it added.
Both operators are chaired by Nic Brereton, whose LinkedIn profile lists his previous roles as chairman of Brilliant Auctions and advisor to BresMed. BresBet launched in 2021 and is known for horse and greyhound racing betting. It sponsors events across those sports and is the lead sponsor at trainer Fergal O’Brien’s stable in Gloucestershire.
The launch of Bet St George
Brereton’s second brand, Bet St George, only entered the UK gambling market in March of this year. Named after England’s patron saint, it aimed to lean into English sporting pride, emulating the approach of regional brands such as McBookie in Scotland and DragonBet in Wales. It planned to spotlight England-related markets with tailored promotions.
Horse racing was again to be a core focus – the operator launched just in time for the 2026 Cheltenham Festival. However, Bet St George was also intended to have a full sportsbook and casino offering and to put a strong emphasis on football, hoping to benefit from the FIFA World Cup.
Brereton said at the time of the launch that Bet St George represented the next stage in his mission to deliver value back to players.
He said: “When the opportunity came to launch a second brand, we asked ourselves what the real gap in the UK market was. We’ve seen operators in Wales and Scotland lean into national identity, but there wasn’t anyone truly focused on England.”
He added: “Bet St George is about English sport, English events and giving those moments the attention they deserve. That means prioritising England markets, creating standout offers around them and being prepared to stand behind our opinion.”
In a post on X, BresBet said: “BresBet is currently temporarily unavailable following the suspension of its operating licence by the Gambling Commission. We are currently working through the matter and will provide further updates when appropriate. Please note that BresBet is not currently accepting bets. If you have any questions, or wish to make an inquiry about your account or funds, you can contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for your understanding.”
