Holland Park Leisure Fined £150,000 for Self-Exclusion Breach

The Gambling Commission has imposed a financial penalty of £150,000 on Holland Park Leisure Limited for breaches of social responsibility codes related to self-exclusion. The company, which runs three Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) in Leicester, was found to have failed to comply with requirements designed to protect vulnerable customers and reduce gambling-related harm.

In addition to the fine, which is equivalent to approximately $202,888, the regulator has ordered Holland Park Leisure to undergo an extensive third-party audit. This audit will review the operator's policies, procedures, and internal controls. It will also assess the competency and training of its staff members to ensure future compliance.

Mandatory Scheme Participation

Under the terms of its licence in Great Britain, all consumer-facing land-based gambling businesses are required to participate in a multi-operator self-exclusion scheme. These schemes allow individuals who are concerned about their gambling to request that they be prevented from using gambling facilities across multiple operators in a specific area. The Commission's investigation found that Holland Park Leisure had breached Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.5.6 by not being a member of such a scheme.

The regulator’s findings revealed that the company only took steps to join a multi-operator scheme after the Commission suspended its operating licence in October 2025. This action followed previous warnings issued to the operator regarding its non-compliance, which had not been heeded. Holland Park Leisure's venues offer Category B and C gaming machines, which are restricted to customers aged 18 and over.

Aggravating Factors

In its decision, the Commission highlighted several significant aggravating factors that contributed to the severity of the penalty. It was noted that Holland Park Leisure had provided misleading information to the regulator during its enquiries into the matter. Furthermore, the fact that the company only began to take steps towards future compliance after its licence review had already commenced was also considered a serious issue.

These factors, combined with the failure to act on prior warnings, were instrumental in the determination of the final regulatory settlement. The enforcement action was carried out by the Gambling Commission's Enforcement and Intelligence directorate, which is led by director John Pierce. The case underscores the regulator's position that participation in harm reduction initiatives like multi-operator self-exclusion is a fundamental and non-negotiable condition of holding a licence to operate in the British market.