WILLEMSTAD – A new investigative report published on December 18, 2025, has exposed what is described as a large-scale offshore gambling network that continues to target consumers in the United Kingdom without authorization, bypassing regulatory controls and consumer protection measures.
The report, released by GAMRS (Gambling industry, Accreditation, Monitoring & Registration Service), focuses on the unlicensed online casino brand MyStake and a broader network of related gambling sites. According to the investigation, these platforms operate through offshore-registered entities, including Santeda International B.V. and Ryker B.V., but are effectively controlled and managed from Georgia via the Upgaming / InPlayNet ecosystem.
Despite lacking permission to operate in the UK, the network is said to have continued attracting British players at scale, operating entirely outside the country’s regulated gambling framework.
Billions in Turnover Outside the Regulated Market
Using conservative modelling based on verified user data and independent benchmarks, GAMRS estimates that MyStake alone generates more than £1.2 billion in annual turnover. The wider Santeda-linked network is estimated to generate approximately £3.5 billion per year.
Crucially, the report assesses that around 64 percent of this activity originates from UK consumers, translating into an estimated £2.0 to £2.2 billion in annual UK-sourced gambling turnover taking place outside the UK’s legal and regulatory system.
According to GAMRS, this represents one of the most significant examples to date of large-scale black-market gambling activity targeting a major regulated market.
Role of Suppliers and Intermediaries
The investigation highlights what it describes as systemic failures within the global gambling supply chain. According to the report, illegal operations such as MyStake are sustained by a network of platform providers, software aggregators, payment intermediaries, affiliate marketing networks, and hosting services, many of which publicly claim to enforce territorial restrictions.
GAMRS concludes that weak compliance at the supplier level has materially undermined enforcement efforts, allowing black-market gambling operations to shut down, rebrand, and reappear rapidly with minimal disruption.
Call for Broader Enforcement Strategy
GAMRS warns that enforcement strategies focused primarily on blocking domains or pursuing individual operators are no longer sufficient to address the scale and sophistication of modern illegal gambling networks.
Instead, the organization calls for a whole-system response, including enhanced cross-border intelligence sharing and far greater scrutiny of suppliers and intermediaries that enable illegal gambling activity.
The findings are directly relevant to the statutory objectives of the UK Gambling Commission, particularly the goals of keeping gambling free from crime and protecting vulnerable consumers. The report also raises broader concerns related to anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, sanctions enforcement, and the handling of proceeds derived from offshore gambling operations.
About GAMRS
GAMRS is an independent accreditation and monitoring body powered by Deal Me Out. The organization works with regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to identify, disrupt, and prevent black-market gambling activity, with a focus on consumer protection, supplier accountability, and evidence-based enforcement.
The report adds to growing international scrutiny of offshore gambling structures and their potential impact on regulated markets, financial integrity, and consumer safety.