UK bookmakers that warned over illicit market had deal with offshore casinos

Three UK bookmakers, Ladbrokes, William Hill, and Betfred, which have consistently raised alarms about the dangers of the illicit gambling market, have also profited from a lucrative deal with one of the world's largest offshore casinos, according to a recent leak from the Casino Secrets files.

The arrangement came to light following the release of thousands of confidential documents held by the gambling regulator on the Caribbean island of Curaçao, a known haven for offshore betting sites. One of the leaked files pertains to the Santeda online casino network, which has faced accusations of illegally targeting vulnerable gamblers in the UK and has been fined in Spain for operating without a license.

In 2022, Santeda signed a deal with Sports Information Services (SIS), a UK-based gambling content provider that is part-owned by Ladbrokes, William Hill, and Fred Done, the billionaire owner of Betfred. The three bookmakers have warned the government that excessive regulation or taxation could push their customers toward unlicensed offshore casinos.

The leak indicates that all three bookmakers have benefited from a share of tens of millions of pounds in dividends paid out by SIS after the contract with Santeda was established. It is understood that the companies were unaware of the deal at the time it was signed.

Matt Zarb-Cousin, a prominent gambling reform campaigner, advised the bookmakers to get their “house in order.” Collectively, they own more than 50% of SIS, which provides live horse racing, greyhound, and esports content, as well as data used to settle bets.