The Swiss gambling oversight body has terminated its legal actions against the Hinwil-based Formula 1 team, Sauber.
In preparation for team owner Audi's complete takeover in 2026, Sauber has temporarily adopted dual branding as 'Kick' and 'Sauber' for the current season.
The rationale behind employing two sponsor names instead of one lies in the advertising restrictions on gambling in various regions, with Stake being an online casino based in Australia-Curacao.
Before the start of the 2024 season, the Swiss gambling authority, ESBK, initiated an inquiry into whether Sauber was criminally violating local laws with its revamped identity and branding strategies.
"The report of an ongoing investigation by the Swiss authorities does not concern us," a spokesperson for Sauber stated in February. "This is a procedure that will highlight our compliance with all applicable regulations."
As reported by the Swiss news service Keystone-SDA, Sauber's assessment proved accurate, leading to the discontinuation of both the legal proceedings and investigation into the team.
"When examining the legality," the media report noted, "the ESBK took into account that Sauber primarily competes internationally and that there are no displays of the Stake logo within Switzerland."
"In addition, according to the commission, Stake's services are not accessible in Switzerland. For these reasons, the ESBK is discontinuing the proceedings," Keystone-SDA explained further.
Nonetheless, the Swiss gambling authority has emphasized that the resolution of Sauber's case "is not a precedent."
