Firms Shut Down Black Market Gambling Network Ahead of Report
Offshore gambling firms dismantled key entities before a new report, raising concerns about accountability.Summary
UK-focused offshore gambling operators have dismantled major corporate entities days before a new investigative report is released by GAMRS and Deal Me Out. The report examines a network linked to brands including MyStake, GoldenBet, DonBet, and Rolletto, which allegedly accepted billions of pounds in bets from UK users without a proper license. The dismantling involved the formal closure of two key companies, Santeda International B.V. and GTW B.V., which were part of a sprawling, multi-jurisdictional system for concealing ownership and avoiding regulation. The network's backbone was identified as platform provider Upgaming, which investigators said facilitated the central management of multiple gambling sites through shared backend infrastructure and customer service systems. Despite enforcement efforts cutting off some access, the associated platforms continued to draw millions of visits, with the UK being the largest source of users. The companies were run by corporate services provider IGA Group, with directorship reportedly passing to an individual called Xianbo Wei before the entities were deleted from official registers. Investigators warn that dissolving legal entities while operations continue through active websites leaves consumers exposed and without a clear corporate body to resolve disputes or recover funds. The report, which was briefly delayed by legal correspondence but confirmed for publication, is expected to extend these findings and likely spur calls for tougher enforcement against offshore operators and infrastructure providers.
(Source：Gamblingnews)