Exposed: Curaçao Casino Network Bypassing UK Self-Exclusion and Fueling Gambling Harm

A Joint Probe Lifts the Lid on Hidden Operations

A collaborative investigation by the Guardian and Investigate Europe, published in early April 2026, has revealed a sprawling network of at least eight unlicensed online casinos targeting UK players; these platforms, including prominent names like MyStake, Velobet, and Goldenbet, operate under the umbrella of Santeda International, a company based in Curaçao, and connect directly to Georgian businessmen such as Tornike Tvauri, Alexander Makashvili, and Mikheil Merebashvili.

What's interesting here is how these sites, licensed only in Curaçao—a jurisdiction known for lighter oversight—manage to slip past major UK safeguards, particularly GamStop, the national self-exclusion scheme designed to help problem gamblers block themselves from licensed operators across Britain; data from the probe shows these casinos drew an average of 2.3 million unique UK visitors each month between November 2025 and January 2026, underscoring the scale of their reach despite lacking UK authorization.

Observers note that such operations thrive by exploiting gaps in international enforcement, where players seeking to dodge self-exclusion tools find easy access to high-stakes games like slots, blackjack, and sports betting; the investigation details how Santeda International funnels traffic through a web of interconnected domains, all while promoting bonuses and promotions tailored to lure British users who believe they're playing offshore legally.

The Players Behind Santeda International

Tornike Tvauri emerges as a central figure in the network, with ties to multiple casino brands under Santeda's control; Alexander Makashvili and Mikheil Merebashvili complement this setup, handling operational aspects from Georgia, a hub for online gambling entrepreneurs seeking Curaçao licenses that cost far less—and demand far fewer compliance checks—than those from stricter regulators like Malta's gaming authority or the Swedish Gambling Inspectorate.

Turns out, Santeda's model relies on aggressive marketing via affiliates and SEO tactics optimized for UK searches, directing traffic to sites that mimic legitimate operators but ignore tools like GamStop integration; researchers who've tracked similar networks point out that Curaçao-issued licenses, while valid locally, offer no reciprocity with European self-exclusion databases, leaving UK players exposed to unchecked gambling.

One case highlighted in the probe involves Velobet, which alone pulled in hundreds of thousands of UK hits monthly, offering live dealer games and crypto deposits that appeal to those evading domestic limits; Goldenbet follows suit, with its sportsbook drawing bets on Premier League matches, while MyStake pushes slots with progressive jackpots, all without verifying self-exclusion status.

Evading GamStop: A Deliberate Loophole

GamStop, launched in 2018 to provide a one-stop self-exclusion portal for UK-licensed sites, proves powerless against offshore operators like these; people who've registered with the scheme often discover, to their detriment, that Santeda's casinos remain accessible via VPNs or simple domain switches, as the probe documents instances where excluded players racked up losses totaling tens of thousands of pounds.

But here's the thing: these platforms advertise explicitly as "GamStop-free" zones, a tactic that experts monitoring online gambling forums have observed drawing in vulnerable users who self-exclude precisely because they fear relapse; figures from the investigation reveal that between late 2025 and early 2026, the network's UK traffic spiked during major events like Christmas promotions, coinciding with heightened vulnerability periods for at-risk gamblers.

Staggering Traffic and the Human Toll

Data indicates the eight sites collectively attracted those 2.3 million monthly unique UK visitors—equivalent to about 4% of the adult population—betting on everything from roulette wheels to football accumulators; such volumes highlight why regulators across Europe, including Malta's Gaming Authority, have ramped up scrutiny on cross-border operators, although enforcement remains fragmented.

Tragically, the probe links this network to real-world harm, most starkly in the case of 36-year-old Ollie Long, whose January 2026 inquest ruled his suicide resulted directly from gambling losses on unlicensed sites; coroners determined Long, who had self-excluded via GamStop, turned to Santeda-linked platforms where he wagered away savings and loans, a pattern researchers studying gambling addiction have seen repeated in offshore cases.

Those who've analyzed inquest records note Long's story isn't isolated; forums and support groups report dozens of similar incidents involving Curaçao casinos, where rapid withdrawals to crypto wallets enable continuous play without intervention, amplifying risks for players in the throes of addiction.

Software Ties Cut Amid Backlash

Upgaming, the software provider powering games on these sites—from flashy slots to live blackjack tables—severed its partnership with Santeda International shortly after the April 2026 revelations surfaced; the move, announced publicly, reflects growing pressure on tech firms to vet clients more rigorously, especially as jurisdictions like Curaçao face calls to tighten licensing amid EU complaints.

Industry watchers point out that Upgaming's exit disrupts operations for MyStake and others, forcing reliance on alternative providers, yet the network's resilience—bolstered by Georgian backers—suggests quick adaptations via new domains or white-label switches; similar severances have occurred before, as seen in probes by groups like the European Gaming and Betting Association, underscoring the cat-and-mouse dynamic in online gambling enforcement.

Regulatory Echoes and Broader Implications

April 2026's exposé arrives as global watchdogs intensify focus on unlicensed operators; for instance, Australia's Interactive Gambling Act enforcers have documented parallel issues with Curaçao sites targeting Aussies, while Canadian provincial regulators like those in Ontario grapple with inbound traffic from similar networks, revealing a pattern where lax jurisdictions export harm to stricter markets.

Calls for bolstered measures echo across the sector, with experts advocating cross-border data-sharing akin to what the EU's Safer Gambling Partnership proposes, aiming to block rogue IPs at the network level; people monitoring these developments observe that without such steps, networks like Santeda's—profiting an estimated millions from UK play—will persist, preying on the very safeguards meant to protect players.

So, while Upgaming's pullout marks one win, the probe stresses that fragmented licensing worldwide keeps the door ajar; Georgian operators, leveraging Curaçao's speed-to-market appeal, continue registering fresh brands, each poised to capture the next wave of traffic.

Conclusion

The Guardian and Investigate Europe's findings lay bare Santeda International's operations, from its Curaçao base through Georgian hands to UK screens, exposing how 2.3 million monthly visitors fuel a cycle of evasion and harm; Ollie Long's inquest stands as a grim reminder of stakes involved, even as software providers like Upgaming step back and regulators worldwide eye tighter nets.

Yet the reality is clear: until international bodies align more closely—perhaps emulating coordinated efforts seen in anti-money laundering pacts—these networks will adapt, underscoring why ongoing vigilance from journalists, researchers, and players themselves remains crucial in an industry where borders blur but consequences hit home.