Story perspectives

Labour Chair Urges Gambling Commission Probe Tether.bet and Fispay

8/19/2026

Summary

Story summary

Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson asked Gambling Commission to probe Tether.bet and Fispay for gambling, which the Sunday Times says lacked a licence under the Gambling Act 2005.
Tether.bet posted a closure notice on 12 August and is linked to fraudster George Cottrell, an ally of Reform UK Nigel Farage.
Christopher Harborne’s £5 million gift to Nigel Farage is under parliamentary standards review, while Cottrell’s lawyers and Harborne’s representatives deny gambling or payment-processing role.

History

Historical Context

After the Labour-government’s Gambling Act 2005 established the Gambling Commission to licence online betting, the Commission fined Betfair £7.8 million in 2015 for unlicensed Isle of Man operations. Today, Labour chair Bridget Phillipson is probing Tether.bet and Fispay for similar breaches, echoing earlier enforcement and the Act’s aim to curb illicit gambling linked to figures such as George Cottrell and Reform UK.

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Story summary

Labour Party chair Bridget Phillipson asked Gambling Commission to probe Tether.bet and Fispay for gambling, which the Sunday Times says lacked a licence under the Gambling Act 2005.
Tether.bet posted a closure notice on 12 August and is linked to fraudster George Cottrell, an ally of Reform UK Nigel Farage.
Christopher Harborne’s £5 million gift to Nigel Farage is under parliamentary standards review, while Cottrell’s lawyers and Harborne’s representatives deny gambling or payment-processing role.

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