Sky Betting and Gaming face threat of legal action following email blunder

Sky Betting and Gaming (SBG) is facing the threat of legal action after customers, including those who had self-excluded, were sent promotional emails last week.

Law firm PGMBM said the blunder was "a complete betrayal of consumer trust" and has asked affected customers to get in touch as it explores the possibility of bringing legal proceedings on their behalf.

It is claimed up to 120,000 people who had asked not to receive gambling correspondence were sent multiple emails by online casino Sky Vegas offering them free spins.

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The error was all the more embarrassing as it took place during the gambling industry's Safer Gambling Week.

Specialist data breach lawyer and PGMBM legal director Tony Winterburn said: "This mistake could cost people their recovery from gambling. These emails have already caused harm and distress to those who opted out of receiving gambling promotions for very good reason."

The firm has requested SBG shares full details about the scale of the error so support can be provided to anyone who may be in danger of relapse.

Winterburn said: "Many of these people took brave and proactive steps, like registering with organisations such as Gamstop, to help themselves change their gambling behaviours.

"For them to have been inadvertently exposed to enticing advertisements is a complete betrayal of consumer trust. Issues like this contextualise why reforms to the Gambling Act are currently under consideration."

Conor Grant, chief executive of the UK and Ireland division of Flutter Entertainment, SBG's parent company, said last week the company had launched a full investigation into what had happened, adding: "We have let many people down, and for that I am truly sorry."

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Flutter did not wish to make any further comment in addition to Grant's statement. The incident has also led campaign group The Big Step to write to the English Football League demanding they end their sponsorship deal with Sky Bet.

The group, which is calling for an end to all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, said in the letter: "Football is the nation's favourite sport, and we should not be naming the English Football League after a company that treats the issue of customer safety with such contempt."

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