In a move straight out of a tabloid fever dream, the UK Gambling Commission has ordered Stake.uk.com—the British arm of Sauber F1’s headline sponsor—to shut down after a racy advertising scandal featuring pornstar Bonnie Blue.
It all went south when a video surfaced on X (formerly known as Twitter), showing Blue loitering outside Nottingham Trent University, delivering the kind of line that makes PR teams break out in a cold sweat: she was there to “sleep with 130 barely-legal 18-year-olds” in two weeks. And just in case you missed the point, Stake’s logos were plastered all over the screen.
The Gambling Commission, already not Stake’s biggest fan, took action. They’d previously slapped Stake.uk.com’s operator, TGP Europe Limited, with a hefty £316,250 fine in 2023 for failing to keep their house in order when it came to responsible gambling and anti-money laundering measures. This time, they’re pulling the plug entirely—come March 11, Stake.uk.com will no longer be licensed in the UK.
“The move follows the launch of a commission investigation into a widely viewed video displaying the Stake-branded logo, which was distributed on a social media platform and featured an adult actress outside Nottingham Trent University,” the commission stated.
TGP Europe, perhaps sensing the regulatory noose tightening, has agreed to immediately stop accepting new registrations on the platform and remove any redirects from the main Stake website. The final shutdown of the Great Britain site is locked in for March 11, 2025.
The Fallout: Where Does This Leave Sauber?
Stake inked its sponsorship deal with Sauber in 2024, slapping its name onto the Swiss F1 team’s cars at races where gambling ads are still legal. But with UK regulators now watching like hawks, there could be repercussions for any of Sauber’s activities on British soil. The soon-to-be Audi F1 outfit has plans to establish a new engineering hub in the UK’s revered ‘motorsport valley’—a move that might now face some unwanted scrutiny.
And it’s not just F1 feeling the heat. Stake also happens to be the front-of-shirt sponsor for Premier League club Everton. The Gambling Commission has fired a warning shot at clubs working with unlicensed operators, stating they must prove that UK users can’t access Stake’s platform through VPNs or other workarounds. Failure to comply could see club officials facing fines, prosecution, or even jail time.
The message from UK regulators is clear: cross the line, and they’ll bury you. As for Stake, Sauber, and Everton—only time will tell whether they dodge the fallout or go down in flames.
Last modified: February 15, 2025
