The BBC today reports that Craig ‘NepentheZ’ Douglas and business partner Dylan Rigby have changed their plea to guilty over charges they’ve promoted a lottery, advertised unlawful gambling and invited children to gamble.
The pair, charged with offences under the UK’s Gambling Act back in September 2016, have allegedly promoted gambling to minors using FIFA’s popular Ultimate Team mode.
Douglas himself has admitted to the charge of “being an officer of a firm that provided facilities for gambling without an operating licence, and a further offence relating to the advertising of unlawful gambling” while Rigby has pleaded guilty to advertising illegal gambling alongside two charges connected to “the provision of facilities for gambling.”
The pair had originally pleaded not guilty to the charges. Sentencing for both Douglas and Rigby should take place within the day.
PCGamesN reports that Rigby has been ordered to pay fines up to £174,000, while Douglas is accountable for £91,000.
This is the first time the UK’s gambling commission has prosecuted anyone for running an unlicensed gambling website related to a video game.
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