Sauber Title Sponsor Receives Blow As Government Shuts Down UK Site After Controversial Move

Posted by author February 14, 2025 Gambling

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Sauber’s title sponsor, Stake, faces a shutdown of its UK website. The shutdown comes after the UK’s Gambling Commission took action due to a controversial video featuring Stake’s logo.

The video, which included an adult performer outside Nottingham Trent University, gained significant traction on social media, prompting regulatory scrutiny. As a result, TGP Europe Limited, responsible for operating the site under a white-label agreement, announced the site will cease operations.

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For Sauber, the situation presents a challenge at a crucial time. The team, known officially as the “Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber,” is set to participate in Formula 1’s 75th-anniversary celebrations in 2025, which includes a major livery reveal on February 18.

It is yet to be confirmed what this will mean for the Sauber F1 team, especially during the British Grand Prix.

In the broader scope, the UK’s Gambling Commission is taking firm steps to enforce compliance. The Commission also intends to contact Everton FC and two other English football clubs with a stern warning, as they also have sponsorship deals with Stake. The Gambling Commission website states:

“Consumers are being advised that Stake.uk.com will no longer be a licensed website from next month.

“TGP Europe Limited (TGP), who operate the site as part of a white-label arrangement, have stated they will be shutting the site.

“The move follows the launch of a Commission investigation into a widely viewed video displaying the Stake-branded logo, which was distributed on a social media platform and featured an adult actress outside Nottingham Trent University.

“TGP has previously been the subject of enforcement action and after a meeting with the Commission have stated they will immediately stop accepting new registrations to the Stake.uk.com platform and remove redirection links from the main Stake website. Final shutdown of the Great Britain site will take place by 11 March 2025.”

This comes ahead of Audi’s takeover of the Swiss-based team in 2026.

For the latest F1 news, head over to F1 on SI.