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football leagues connecting with Asian gambling corporations spark worries

UK Parliamentarians Advocate for Inquiry on Suspected Association between Premier League and Firm Connected to Jailed Chinese Tycoon Alvin Chau

UK politicians advocate for probe into potential Premier League-Chinese billionaire Alvin Chau's...
UK politicians advocate for probe into potential Premier League-Chinese billionaire Alvin Chau's business association

football leagues connecting with Asian gambling corporations spark worries

Get the Lowdown on Premier League's Shady Betting Partners

Here's a juicy scoop for sports enthusiasts! Ten English Premier League (EPL) clubs have joined forces with eight betting brands that all have a sneaky connection - they're all tied to an Isle of Man-based company called TGP. The Mail on Sunday's investigative journalism uncovers this intriguing revelation.

TGP Europe, the company in question, is currently licensed by the UK's gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission. The mysterious firm is said to be closely associated with other Isle of Man-based businesses, such as Xela Holdings and TGP Holdings, but its true owner remains unknown. Furthermore, card-carrying connections to SunCity Group might hint at Alvin Chau's involvement in the operations.

SunCity Group made its entrance in 2007, soon rising to be a major player as a high-end junket operator, a term for services that catered to rich Chinese businessmen eager to visit Macau and place their bets. Although gambling is forbidden in China, Macau, a special administrative region, has turned it into a lucrative business. This arrangement proved highly profitable for SunCity Group, raking in millions before the market took a nosedive with the crackdown on junket operators.

In November 2021, Chau found himself in hot water for alleged ties with criminal networks, signaling the beginning of the tightening noose on junket operators. The noose tightened further as Chau was recently handed an 18-year sentence after being found guilty of charges like illegal gambling and fraud. He was also identified as the ringleader of an underground gambling ring.

Investigation Urges APPG

It's hard to believe that Premier League clubs were in on the fact that their Asian-facing betting partners could have ties to a dubious organization linked to illicit activities. Inevitably, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on gambling harm has vowed to launch an investigation if the Gambling Commission and the Premier League don't step up and address the concerns raised by this damning report.

APPG's Vice-Chair, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, issues a grim warning about the league's global reputation at stake. He expresses APPG's unease regarding the potential links between the GC-licensed TGP and those brands that potentially have ties to SunCity. Smith points out that Chau's guilty verdict for his criminal connections raises more questions, particularly since Premier League clubs profit handsomely from gambling operations supported by betting operators.

Stay tuned for updates as the APPG digs deeper into this web of connections, unraveling the shady dealings that taint the Premier League's glowing reputation.

  1. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on gambling harm has announced its intention to launch an investigation, given the concerns raised about English Premier League (EPL) clubs' associations with betting brands tied to TGP Europe, a company with questionable links to illicit activities.
  2. Despite their glowing reputation, the European Premier League risks suffering potential damage to its standing, as the connection between TGP Europe and Asian-facing betting partners, some of whom might have ties to SunCity Group, stirs controversy.
  3. British businessmen may have engaged in business dealings with TGP Europe, a company that, through its connection to SunCity Group and its questionable associations, could taint the Premier League's reputation in the realm of crime and justice.
  4. The European leagues, including the Premier League, have partnered with several betting brands connected to TGP Europe, raising eyebrows in the general-news sphere as allegations surface linking this firm to Alvin Chau, a convicted criminal who was recently sentenced to 18 years for illegal gambling and fraud.
  5. SunCity Group, once a major player in the high-stakes gambling industry, has now become a focal point of discussion in sports, crime, and general news, as connections between the company and betting partners of English Premier League (EPL) clubs resurface, leading to questions about the industry's ethical standards.

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