Premier League partner and fantasy football site Sorare.com has entered a plea of not guilty in relation to three charges of providing illegal gambling services in the UK market.
On 26th of September, 2024, the UK Gambling Commission announced that it had brought charges against the football-themed website for providing facilities for gambling without holding an operating license. These alleged charges are in direct breach of to section 33(1), (4), and section 36(3), (3A) of the Gambling Act 2005.
The company entered its formal plea at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today (Friday October 4th) with the trial set for the summer of 2025 in the same court.
Charges read out before District Judge David Murray allege that France-based Sorare provided facilities for gambling by offering “a remote facility for gambling to consumers within Great Britain, without holding a license”.
This is alleged to have happened over three separate periods of time from February 7th, 2022 to April 5th, 2024.
However, today, Sorare’s barrister told the court that the company believes it does not require a license from the Gambling Commission as UK users are not provided with the option to gamble.
In a statement issued last week, a Sorare.com spokesperson said of the charges:
“We are aware of the claims made by the Gambling Commission and have instructed our UK counsel to challenge them.
We firmly deny any claims that Sorare is a gambling product under UK laws.
The commission has misunderstood our business and wrongly determined that gambling laws apply to Sorare. We cannot comment further whilst legal proceedings are under way.”
What is Sorare?
Sorare is a digital fantasy soccer game that integrates cryptocurrency. Players buy, own, and trade collectible digital cards in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The cite has licensing agreements for players from more than 200 professional teams.
Like traditional fantasy soccer, participants create a lineup each week, earning points based on the real-life performance of professional soccer players.
At the end of each week, points are calculated based on the real-life performance of the selected soccer players. Sorare players with the highest scores can earn special rewards, including rare collectible cards and Ethereum tokens.
Olivia has worked as an editor and writer for major brands across multiple niches. She now focuses on the iGaming and sports betting industries.
Sorare.com, a popular online fantasy football platform, has recently found itself embroiled in a legal battle over allegations of unlicensed gambling. The company, which allows users to buy, sell, and trade virtual football player cards, has been accused of operating an unlicensed gambling operation by a group of disgruntled users.
The allegations stem from the fact that users can purchase packs of player cards with real money, and then use those cards to compete in fantasy football leagues for the chance to win prizes. Critics argue that this setup constitutes gambling, as users are essentially wagering money on the outcome of virtual football matches.
However, Sorare.com has vehemently denied these allegations, stating that their platform is not a form of gambling but rather a skill-based game of strategy. The company points out that users must use their knowledge of football and player statistics to build successful teams, and that luck plays a minimal role in determining the outcome of matches.
In a statement released to the press, Sorare.com CEO Nicolas Julia emphasized that the company takes responsible gaming practices seriously and complies with all relevant regulations. He stated, “We are confident that our platform is fully compliant with all applicable laws and regulations, and we will vigorously defend ourselves against these baseless allegations.”
The legal battle is ongoing, with both sides presenting their arguments in court. In the meantime, Sorare.com continues to operate as usual, allowing users to buy, sell, and trade virtual player cards and compete in fantasy football leagues.
As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether Sorare.com will be able to successfully defend itself against the allegations of unlicensed gambling. In the meantime, users of the platform are advised to exercise caution and stay informed about the legal proceedings.
