BC.GAME, Leicester City’s front-of-shirt partner, has reportedly lost its operating licence.
According to Josimar, a football news outlet, a Curaçao Gaming Control Board (GCB) document has been seen that states the regulator is poised to revoke the licence of Small Dance B.V, the company which operates BC.GAME.
Should the reports prove accurate this will create an even more difficult situation for Leicester City, which was already having to contend with its partner’s financial and legal issues.
BC.GAME was forced to acknowledge reports of bankruptcy last week amid an ongoing legal case in Curaçao, a Dutch-held island in the Caribbean where many international gambling operators hold licences.
The court case was brought forward by BC.GAME customers who claimed losses due to system issues and accused the company of misconduct.
BC.GAME strongly denied the accusations, which have led to reports that the two companies behind it – Blockdance BV and the aforementioned Small House BV – had been declared bankrupt.
Leicester City subsequently addressed these reports in a statement. The club said: “BC.Game have provided the club with the strongest assurances that they are actively appealing this case, and that the process which has been initiated in Curacao is administrative in nature and has not arisen due to any concerns with their financial standing.
“BC.Game have further assured us that they have no issues with liquidity and that they remain fully committed to meeting their ongoing contractual and financial obligations, including to the club, and that this case will not impact on BC.Game’s continuing international operations.”
BC.GAME’s alleged bankruptcy and licence loss could have significant ramifications. Firstly, for Leicester City, this could significantly impact club income, with the club potentially losing a lucrative front-of-shirt sponsor deal.
Leicester currently stand 16th in the Premier League, two places above relegation, and are in the process of changing team manager. Commercial revenue could prove critical to the team’s on-pitch performance.
Off the pitch, the club has already found itself at the mercy of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Further loss of revenue could make the club more liable to breach the rules again, and potentially face a points deduction.
Meanwhile, the loss of a Curaçao licence could further complicate matters due to BC.GAME’s platform already not actually active in the UK. The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has previously cautioned clubs like Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace about the risks of working commercially with operators not active in the UK.
On a broader scale, the saga could cast the whole network of sponsorship deals between English football and betting companies in a negative light after years of clubs defending these deals in the content of the Gambling Act review.
Premier League clubs are already set to abandon front-of-shirt betting deals from the 2026/27 season onwards. However, cases like this may be cited by campaigners as examples of the risks of football clubs working with high-risk sectors like betting.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our Telegram channel!
