Exposed: The Vast Illegal Casino Network Preying on UK Gamblers
Calls for tougher laws are mounting as a sprawling illegal casino network, stretching from the Caribbean to Georgia, generates immense wealth for offshore tycoons by apparently targeting vulnerable gamblers in the UK. This sophisticated operation leverages AI-generated decoys and operates outside regulatory oversight, raising urgent concerns about fraud, financial harm, and even links to suicide.
The Illusion of a Golden Boy
Andres Markou, the impeccably groomed and smiling chief executive of MyStake, a rapidly expanding digital casino, has been portrayed as a gambling industry visionary. Images show him shaking hands with Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho and collecting prestigious awards. However, Markou does not exist. Analysis by the Guardian and deepfake detection specialists Reality Defender indicates that his photos are AI-generated fakes, serving as a decoy to obscure the true masterminds behind this illicit network.
Operating from opaque jurisdictions like Curaçao, these unlicensed casinos evade legal duties to protect addicts and prevent money laundering. They have been associated with severe consequences, including financial ruin and tragic outcomes for individuals.
A Web of Deception and Harm
MyStake is part of a vast international empire, including brands like Velobet, Goldenbet, and Rolletto, all illegally accessible to UK punters via mobile devices or computers. Collectively, these sites attracted an average of 2.3 million monthly unique visitors from the UK between November 2025 and January 2026, according to web traffic analysis firm Similarweb.
All appear to be under the umbrella of Santeda International, which lacks a Gambling Commission licence, a legal requirement for serving UK customers. These casinos exploit loopholes, prominently featuring on affiliate websites that advertise casinos not restricted by GamStop, the UK's self-exclusion scheme. Affiliates capitalise on search terms like "Not on GamStop," directing vulnerable gamblers to bypass safety nets for a fee.
Margaret, a woman in her 50s, experienced this firsthand. After self-excluding via GamStop due to addiction fears, she found Goldenbet through online searches. She quickly became hooked, depositing £29,000 and winning £15,000, but faced delays in withdrawing funds. Frustrated, she gambled away her winnings, ultimately losing £23,000. Her story highlights the personal devastation caused by these illegal operations.
The Human Cost and Regulatory Challenges
The impact extends beyond financial loss. In January, an inquest ruled that unlicensed operators contributed to the "factual matrix" leading to the suicide of 36-year-old Ollie Long. Labour MP Alex Ballinger accused such sites of deliberately targeting vulnerable individuals trying to quit gambling and urged the Gambling Commission to take immediate action.
Despite these calls, the sheer volume of illegal casinos makes them easy for gamblers to find but difficult for regulators to shut down. The Gambling Commission has targeted affiliate sites and sent takedown requests, but most Santeda-operated casinos remain accessible from the UK. New powers are expected to allow the regulator to block domain names and IP addresses, but their effectiveness and timeline remain uncertain.
Unravelling the Network: From Caribbean to Caucasus
The investigation traces the digital trail from Santeda to Upgaming, a Swiss-based software provider, and a group of Georgian businessmen. Curaçao, a Dutch-ruled Caribbean island, serves as a haven for online gambling, offering licences with minimal disclosure. Santeda International BV holds one such licence, with ties to Upgaming until recently severed.
Corporate documents and domain registrations suggest connections between Upgaming, its CEO Tornike Tvauri, and the Santeda network. For instance, domain names for Santeda casinos were registered by Upgaming or Tvauri, and affiliate management company Affision.com also links to him. Upgaming's lawyers deny any operational involvement with Santeda, attributing these links to coincidences or unauthorized use of names.
Financial benefits from Santeda appear to fuel investments in Georgia, such as the Autograph Mall development in Tbilisi. Upgaming's Cypriot entity has extended loans worth at least €6.5 million to Upco LLC, a developer involved in the project, with investors including Tvauri and other Georgian nationals tied to Upgaming.
The Economic Toll and Future Outlook
While profits flow through Europe, the UK bears the brunt, with gambling harm costing the economy between £1 billion and £2 billion annually. In response, the chancellor allocated an extra £26 million over three years to combat illicit sites. Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith emphasised the need for international cooperation to hold operators accountable.
As this network continues to exploit regulatory gaps, the urgency for robust enforcement and global collaboration grows. The use of AI decoys and offshore structures underscores the evolving challenges in protecting vulnerable gamblers and ensuring ethical practices in the digital age.
