(AsiaGameHub) – By: Elena Rostova
Entain’s request to the UK IPO to tighten trademark registration is a wake – up call. The current situation allows unlicensed gambling operators to get UK trademark protection, which is a clear loophole.
Entain found 18 operators targeting UK residents without a valid Gambling Commission licence, 14 of them operating illegally. Simon Zinger from Entain pointed out that unlicensed gambling in the UK is a criminal offence, yet these entities can register trademarks and gain commercial legitimacy.
In response, Adam Williams of the IPO referred the concerns to the trademark policy team. But UK law restricts the IPO from denying applications based solely on business activity. Currently, there’s no equivalent regulatory mechanism for trademark issuance like at Companies House.
In the end, if the UK IPO doesn’t address this, unlicensed operators will continue to abuse the trademark system, undermining the legal gambling market. The IPO needs to find a way to balance trademark rights and regulatory compliance.
Author bio: Elena Rostova, a public policy expert specializing in compliance assessments for governments or sovereign wealth funds.
