Exposed: Unlicensed Casino Empire Targets UK Gamblers, Bypassing GamStop in a Network Run from Curaçao

A joint probe by The Guardian and Investigate Europe has laid bare a sprawling operation of at least eight unlicensed online casinos, including well-known names like MyStake, Velobet, and Goldenbet, all run by Santeda International out of Curaçao; these platforms, tied to Georgian businessmen such as Tornike Tvauri, Alexander Makashvili, and Mikheil Merebashvili, have drawn massive UK traffic while dodging key self-exclusion tools. Published in early April 2026, the revelations hit amid growing scrutiny of offshore gambling sites that slip through regulatory cracks, showing how players end up ensnared despite national barriers like GamStop.

Investigators sifted through company records, domain data, and financial trails, uncovering Santeda's central role; the firm, licensed loosely under Curaçao's framework—which experts note often lacks the teeth of stricter regimes—powers these sites with shared tech backends and marketing funnels. What's interesting is how the network funnels users across brands seamlessly, keeping engagement high even as losses mount for players.

Santeda International stands at the hub, operating from Curaçao where licensing standards draw criticism for minimal oversight; Georgian nationals Tvauri, Makashvili, and Merebashvili link directly to the setup through ownership strings and executive roles, according to leaked documents and registry dives by the reporting teams. Sites under their umbrella—MyStake with its flashy slots lineup, Velobet pushing sports bets alongside casino games, Goldenbet offering live dealer tables—share backend software, payment processors, and even affiliate programs that target UK audiences aggressively.

These platforms bypass GamStop, the UK's self-exclusion database launched to help problem gamblers lock themselves out of licensed sites; players registering with GamStop find doors wide open here since the casinos hold no UK license and ignore the scheme entirely. Data from the investigation reveals an average of 2.3 million unique UK visitors per month across the network between November 2025 and January 2026, a figure pulled from traffic analytics tools like SimilarWeb and internal logs.

And here's where it gets stark: that traffic spike coincides with holiday seasons when gambling spikes often occur, pulling in folks who've already signaled they want out. Observers who've tracked offshore ops note this pattern isn't new, but the scale here—eight sites confirmed, possibly more—marks it as one of teh boldest networks yet exposed.

Tragedy underscores the stakes; 36-year-old Ollie Long from the UK took his own life, a death an inquest in January 2026 ruled as linked to gambling harm fueled by these very unlicensed sites. Coroners heard how Long, having self-excluded via GamStop, turned to platforms like those in Santeda's web where barriers didn't exist; he racked up debts in the tens of thousands, chasing losses on slots and roulette amid aggressive bonuses and easy deposits.

Family statements during the inquest painted a picture of rapid decline, with Long borrowing heavily and isolating himself; the ruling explicitly tied his suicide to "gambling-related debts" from non-GamStop sites, echoing warnings from researchers who've studied self-exclusion gaps. One study from the Australian Gambling Research Centre highlights how offshore operators exploit such loopholes globally, correlating them with heightened suicide risks among vulnerable players.

People close to cases like this often discover how these sites use geoblocking workarounds—VPN-friendly designs, crypto payments, mirror domains—to keep UK access flowing; for Long and others, that meant no respite despite desperate measures.

Software provider Upgaming, which powered backends for Santeda's casinos, cut ties immediately after the April 2026 exposé dropped; a company statement confirmed termination of all contracts, citing the revelations as crossing ethical lines even under Curaçao's lax rules. Turns out Upgaming had supplied RNG tech and live dealer streams to MyStake and siblings, but now scrambles to audit other clients amid the fallout.

Calls for tougher measures echo loudly; while the UK Gambling Commission weighs responses—without delving into their specifics here—figures in the sector point to the challenges of policing Curaçao-based entities, where enforcement relies on payment blocks and domain seizures that operators dodge with ease. Data from the probe shows these sites processed millions in UK bets monthly, often via e-wallets and crypto that trace poorly.

Experts who've monitored Curaçao's scene, like those at the European Gaming and Betting Association, stress how unlicensed networks thrive on weak licensing; EGBA reports indicate Europe-wide losses to black market gambling top billions annually, with UK players a prime target due to high disposable spend.

So how do these sites reel in crowds? Shared affiliate networks blast ads on social media, SEO-optimized blogs, and even TikTok influencers, luring with no-verification bonuses and "GamStop-free" pitches; once hooked, players navigate mirrored domains if one gets blocked, while crypto deposits ensure anonymity and speed. The investigation mapped over 20 domains rotating across the eight brands, a shell game that frustrates takedown efforts.

Traffic figures break down starkly: MyStake alone clocked 1.2 million UK uniques in December 2025, Velobet hit sports punters hard during Premier League matches, Goldenbet drew table game fans with high-stakes blackjack; combined, that 2.3 million monthly average signals a juggernaut, dwarfing some licensed rivals in raw visits.

But the real hook lies in personalization algorithms mirroring licensed sites yet unbound by fairness audits; slots with 96% RTP claims go unverified, live dealers stream without UKGC-equivalent oversight, and VIP programs escalate bets unchecked. Those who've analyzed player journeys report deposit spikes within hours of signup, bonuses that lock funds until wagering thresholds—often 40x or more—are met.

This network fits a larger mosaic; Curaçao, once a licensing haven for over 450 operators, faces heat as jurisdictions like Malta and Gibraltar tighten belts, pushing shadier outfits there. Georgian ties add another layer—Tvauri and cohorts have past ventures in betting shops back home, now scaled online with Santeda as the vehicle.

Financial flows trace to Eastern European banks and crypto mixers, complicating freezes; payment giants like Visa and PayPal shun them officially, yet prepaid cards and fintechs fill gaps. Researchers tracking this note a 25% uptick in UK offshore play since GamStop's 2018 rollout, per industry metrics, as excluded players migrate.

One case mirrors Long's: anonymous forum posts from UK punters detail "GamStop alternatives" leading to six-figure losses, with sites vanishing mid-chase only to rebrand under Santeda's umbrella. It's a cycle where evasion tech—CDNs masking servers, AI chatbots stonewalling complaints—keeps the machine humming.

The Guardian and Investigate Europe probe spotlights a persistent thorn: unlicensed networks like Santeda's, thriving on Curaçao's shadows while feasting on UK traffic that GamStop can't touch; with 2.3 million monthly visitors and tragedies like Ollie Long's suicide etched in inquest records, the story demands action beyond headlines. Upgaming's exit signals industry recoil, yet as April 2026 unfolds, the ball sits in regulators' courts worldwide to bridge gaps in a borderless digital gamble. Figures from the exposé—eight sites, Georgian masterminds, evasion mastery—paint a clear map for future crackdowns, reminding everyone how offshore ops turn safeguards into sieves.