Firm behind 'Piegate' stunt are punished by Gambling Commission

The betting company involved in last year's 'Piegate' stunt involving former Sutton United goalkeeper Wayne Shaw has had their licence reviewed by the Gambling Commission and been hit with an £84,000 penalty.

Sun Bets offered 8-1 that Shaw would eat a pie in the dugout on camera during a televised FA Cup tie against Arsenal, which he duly did.

Shaw was fined £375 and banned from playing for two months by the Football Association, who said he had intentionally influenced a football betting market.

The firm was also punished for having offered odds on a streaker running onto the pitch, which the commission said would involve the commission of a criminal offence.

Wayne Shaw: banned from playing football for two months following 'piegate'Credit: Getty Images

The commission found that Sun Bets' parent company Tabcorp failed to properly manage the risks associated with offering novelty bets, while the regulator's investigation also found they had allowed more than 100 self-excluded customers to open duplicate accounts and gamble.

Gambling Commission programme director Richard Watson said: "Vulnerable customers were able to gamble with Tabcorp UK, despite choosing to self-exclude. This isn't acceptable.

"Gambling firms must ensure the systems they have in place are protecting their customers effectively.

"Novelty betting markets, such as the market Tabcorp UK offered on last year's FA Cup tie between Sutton United v Arsenal, may seem like a bit of fun but the consequences were serious – with the potential to encourage someone to commit a criminal act or breach a sports governing bodies' rules."

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