The betting-related scandals from the world of video games seem unlikely to stop. In fact, this week the UK Gambling Commission condemned British YouTuber Craig Douglas (aka NepentheZ), along with his social manager Dylan Rigby, for helping to run a gambling website called FUT Galaxy which let players bet on Premier League matches using FUT currency (which can be redeemed for real-world money).
Birmingham Magistrates' Court said that NepentheZ promoted his FUT Galaxy "social gaming" site, which allowed players to use a credit card to place bets in a virtual currency, the chief issue being that there was no age restriction, so minors could access it.
As a result Douglas will have to pay a fine of £91,000, while Rigby will have to pay £174,000, not to mention legal expenses amount to £75,000 and £150,000 respectively. Here's what District Judge Jack McGarva said on this matter to both Douglas and Rigby:
"The aggravating features of these offences are they were committed over a relatively long period of around six months... Children were gambling on your site. It's impossible for me to know how many or the effect on them... In my opinion both of you were aware of the use of the site by children and the attractiveness of it to children. At the very least you both turned a blind eye to it."
The scandal involving FUT Galaxy is just one of many that we have seen in the industry in recent years. In the last twelve months there have been similar scandals involving Valve and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, with sites associated to the game facilitating gambling with in-game skins. Another game from Valve, Team Fortress 2, looked like it might be affected, however the company has taken preparatory steps to protect players.
Thanks, Birmingham Mail.