Sauber F1 Driver Zhou Guanyu

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Lydia Mee

By Lydia Mee

Sports Contributing Writer

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Stake, the title sponsor for the Sauber Formula 1 team, is facing a major issue in its operations within the UK. The UK Gambling Commission has ordered the shutdown of Stake's UK website following the release of a controversial advertisement.

This now-deleted video, featuring Stake's logo, gained traction on social media and involved adult performer, Bonnie Blue, outside Nottingham Trent University. As a result, the Commission has taken steps to clamp down on Stake's UK presence due to violations of advertising standards.

As well as the controversy surrounding the adult performer, the ad also seems to breach the regulation which prohibits gambling being linked to seduction.

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The impact on Stake is immediate and has operational repercussions managed by TGP Europe Limited, which oversees the site as part of a white-label agreement. The site, Stake.uk.com, will officially close by March 11, 2025, with an immediate stop to new customer registrations and removal of redirection links that link back to Stake's main webpage.

Sauber F1 Driver Zhou Guanyu

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The Gambling Commission website explains:

"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."

The ramifications of this decision could impact the Sauber F1 team, formally known as "Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber," as the team prepares for Formula 1's 75th-anniversary events and the 2025 season. It is currently unclear as to whether the team will have to adopt the 'Kick' branding for the British Grand Prix or not.

The Swiss-based team already adopts the 'Kick' branding when competing in countries where gambling is illegal.

In 2025, attention also turns towards Sauber's upcoming transition with a planned takeover by Audi in 2026. This acquisition raises questions about Stake's future association with the team.

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