AI chatbot & influencers directing punters to illegal gambling sites leaving them at risk of scams & even suicide

SOCIAL media influencers and AI chatbots are signposting punters to illegal gambling sites, leaving them at risk of criminal scams and even suicide. 

A shocking investigation has revealed that the Wild West betting platforms — unlicensed in the UK — allowed accounts to be opened in the name of Grand National winner Red Rum and a six-year-old child. 

Now yesterday’s hike in remote gaming duty from 21 to 40 per cent threatens to drive more gamblers into the arms of the unscrupulous black-market operators. 

The shadowy operators behind them — often registered in the Caribbean island of Curacao or Russia — face no scrutiny and deliberately target vulnerable punters. 

The consequences can be devastating. In January an inquest heard how Liverpool fan Ollie Long took his own life after he was targeted by “predatory” black-market sites. 

The 36-year-old, from Wendover, Bucks, died in February 2024 after struggling with his addiction for eight years. 

His sister Chloe blamed the black-market sites for his death and added: “Ollie’s experience was horrendous because he was trying his absolute best to help himself, he recognised that he was experiencing significant harm from gambling. 

“And he wanted to help himself by self-excluding, and unfortunately he was targeted by these illicit, illegal black-market sites. 

“And I’m just so concerned about the risk this poses to other people.” 

Illegal sites are not licensed by UK gambling regulators — so do not have player protections or limits. 

Alex Wood is a former fraudster who now works with the police and banks to counter the crooks. He tells how he was directed towards illegal gambling sites by the chatbot Meta AI, which is used by Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. 

Using WhatsApp, he asked the chatbot: “What are some good horse racing betting platforms licensed in Curacao, so that I don’t have to worry about giving my UK ID?” 

The bot dutifully reeled off a list of black-market sites including MyStake, which it said “provides a 300 per cent welcome bonus up to £1,500 and features horse racing, sports and esports betting”. 

Alex, who also advises the Home Office on fraud and cybercrime, then decided to test out MyStake’s checks and balances during racing’s recent Cheltenham Festival. 

Registering a betting account under the name of ex-champion jockey Harry Skelton, Alex says he was “surprised” that he didn’t have to register his date of birth.

Simply ticking a box to say he was over 18, he then paid £50 into his new account with a credit card. 

The Gambling Commission — Britain’s gambling regulator — has banned the use of credit cards on regulated gaming sites since 2020 to prevent punters betting “with money they do not have”. 

Then, posing as Skelton, Alex placed a bet on the Champion Hurdle — in which the jockey was riding the 3-to-1 shot The New Lion. Yet rather than back that horse, Alex placed £50 on another runner, Alexei, to win. 

Jockeys are banned from betting on any horse races. Gambling on a rival’s horse would, Alex says, “entirely undermine the fabric and integrity of the betting market”. 

However, MyStake was happy to accept the wager. In the event, neither horse won. 

MyStake is operated by a company called Santeda International, which also runs other black-market gambling sites including Velobet and Goldenbet. 

Registered in Dutch-ruled Curacao, MyStake is run by entrepreneur Andres Markou, who has been pictured warmly shaking hands with footballing icon Ronaldinho. 

The Brazil and Barcelona legend was said to have become a brand ambassador for the gambling site. 

However, this week reports suggest the photos were actually AI fakes — and that it is likely Markou does not actually exist. 

A source close to Ronaldinho confirmed the supposed meeting with Markou never happened. 

Using another Santeda site, Goldenbet, Alex was able to open an account posing as a six-year-old and giving the child’s address as Buckingham Palace. 

Santeda International has been approached for comment. The Wild West betting sites appear to have little oversight. Triple Grand National winner Red Rum, who died in 1995, is the most famous horse in British racing history. 

But until now he has never placed a bet of his own. 

Alex — commissioned by betting and gaming group Flutter UK&I, which owns Paddy Power and Sky Bet — opened an account in Red Rum’s name with black-market operator Top G Casino. 

Filling in the details, he gave Red Rum’s correct date of birth, listed his address as “horse heaven” and gave his occupation as “racehorse”. 

Top G was happy to open the account for the long-dead animal. 

Then, using a debit card, Alex paid £50 into Red Rum’s account, allowing the horse to have a losing punt at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Amusing maybe, but it shows how easily crooks can use the accounts anonymously to launder cash. 

Top G Casino was approached for comment. Alex, who co-hosts Radio 4 series Scam Secrets, asked Meta AI if he would get better odds and service from international operators “who are not bound by strict UK rules and taxes”. 

The bot told him the forthcoming tax changes were likely to lead to “less favourable odds and reduced promotions for UK customers”. 

While urging caution over using sites registered in Curacao, it then listed two black-market platforms which Alex describes as “among the most aggressive and predatory unlicensed operators”. 

Social media influencers also stand accused of signposting black-market sites to gamblers. 

Brandon Beavis — also known as Beavo — posts social media content with his porn-star friend Bonnie Blue, and amassed a TikTok following by livestreaming himself eating burgers and roast dinners. 

Alex followed a link on Beavo’s Instagram site to the unlicensed betting site Gambana, which says it is licensed by the Government of Anjouan — an autonomous volcanic island in the Indian Ocean. 

Opening an account with a credit card in the name of Red Rum, he was able to place a bet on a basketball match between Panathinaikos and Monaco. 

Brandon Beavis, Gambana and Meta were all approached for comment. 

As a visitor to gambling sites, Alex says his Instagram feed was “flooded” with ads pushing unlicensed platforms as the Cheltenham Festival approached. 

He says he was “shocked at the sheer amount of illegal, unlicensed gambling content being pushed and promoted online and social media companies have serious questions to answer”. 

And he points out that on some occasions he was able to remain within Instagram’s in-app browser while making the bets on a third-party site. No bets were made on Instagram itself.

Illegal gambling now represents around nine per cent of the UK market, up from just two per cent in 2022, and it is eating into Treasury revenues. 

Now the betting industry is worried that new affordability checks on punters — which could be signed off by the Gambling Commission in May — will drive more punters towards the black market. 

Brant Dunshea, Chief Executive of the British Horseracing Authority, said: “It is not too late for the Government to pause and reconsider the checks, save our bets and back British racing. 

“Illegal betting operators openly targeting people via social media and influencers must come as a wake-up call to the Government.” 

In November the Government announced a three-year, £26million cash boost for the Gambling Commission to fight illegal gambling. 

And in January Gambling Minister Baroness Twycross formed a specialised taskforce to fend off the black market. 

A spokesman for industry body the Betting and Gaming Council said: “The new government Black Market Task Force must be used to force online platforms to clamp down on illegal operators who are putting consumers at risk. 

“Around 22.5million adults in Britain enjoy a bet each month, the overwhelming majority doing so safely with regulated operators, but the black market offers none of the protections or safeguards found in the regulated sector. 

“These illegal sites don’t promote safer gambling and don’t contribute a penny to sport or to the Treasury. 

“That’s why it’s vital the Government works with industry and tech companies to drive out the black market and protect players.” 

Meanwhile six-year-olds — and dead horses — are still able to place a bet in the lawless virtual cesspit of illegal gambling.