Isle of Man bans Metagrow Director from any role in gambling sector
Seow Gim Shen, director of the Isle of Man-based gaming software firm Metagrow Solutions Limited, has been banned from holding any role in the island’s gambling sector.
that it found Seow to “lack integrity” and ruled he is not a fit and proper person to be involved in any key position within an online gaming company.
Conviction in Singapore
Seow, 42, from George Town, Penang in Malaysia, was convicted in Singapore for conspiring to unlawfully obtain the personal data of 9,369 individuals. He was sentenced to 14 weeks in prison alongside co-defendant Kong Chien Hoi, 39. The personal data was obtained from Chinese national Sun Jiao, who is alleged to be connected to a global cybercrime syndicate. The data had been collected through other gambling websites.
Sun Jiao was among seven men arrested by Singapore police in September for their alleged roles in the syndicate, which is accused of engaging in malicious cyber activities.
“Necessary and proportionate” action
Following an investigation and allowing for due process the Commission has deemed it necessary and proportionate in all the circumstances, that Seow be prohibited under section 26 of the Gambling (Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism) Act 2018 (the “GAMLA”) from undertaking any role in the Isle of Man gambling sector. The ban will remain in place indefinitely unless Seow successfully applies for it to be varied or revoked.
The GSC acknowledged Seow’s cooperation, stating: “His acknowledgment of the facts and engagement with the Commission allowed the regulator to conclude the matter sooner than might otherwise have been the case.”
It added: “Any controller of an entity regulated by the Commission is required to be a person of integrity at all times.
“The Commission typically considers a person who lacks integrity not to be a controller will also not be a fit and proper person to perform any roles or engage in any functions within the regulated gambling sector. In seeking to fulfil its regulatory objectives, and in seeking to protect the Isle of Man’s reputation, the Commission will not hesitate to act robustly.”
Metagrow’s licence cancellation
In December 2024, the s, which was wholly owned by Seow. The company had been incorporated in August 2022 and licensed as a gambling software supplier since March 2023. It was registered at Millennium House on Victoria Road in Douglas.
The regulator said it was no longer satisfied that Metagrow was “under the control of a person of integrity”. On 1 November, Isle of Man-based ILS Fiduciaries wrote to Seow to inform him of their intention to resign as the registered agent for the company.
