WILLEMSTAD – A group of offshore online gambling websites popular among British players has moved its operations under a new licensing structure based in Curaçao, placing the island once again at the center of international attention surrounding unregulated gambling markets.
The brands involved include MyStake, Velobet, Donbet and Goldenbet. These platforms have long operated outside the United Kingdom’s regulated gambling system and have attracted users seeking betting sites not connected to GamStop, the UK’s national self-exclusion program. Recent changes in the websites’ legal disclosures show that the operations are now linked to GTW B.V., a company that obtained a local business-to-consumer gambling license in Curaçao last year. Previously, the brands were associated with another Curaçao-based entity, Santeda International.
Industry specialists note that shifting company structures and licenses is a common practice within offshore gambling markets. Such changes allow operators to continue functioning while distancing themselves from investigations or negative publicity. Under Curaçao’s regulatory framework, companies are allowed to keep operating during license renewal periods, even when public records may suggest that permits have technically expired.
The restructuring follows investigative reporting in the United Kingdom that highlighted the scale of activity linked to these platforms. Estimates suggest that British users may have wagered billions of pounds through the network’s websites in 2025 alone, with MyStake accounting for a significant share of that activity.
Beyond financial concerns, the network has also drawn criticism over its treatment of vulnerable players. Advocacy organization GAMRS, which represents individuals affected by gambling addiction, has collected testimonies from former users describing what it calls troubling practices. These include continued marketing to players who had asked not to be contacted, difficulties in closing accounts, and aggressive tactics aimed at keeping customers betting.
According to GAMRS and other observers, these practices reflect a broader trend in which offshore gambling sites deliberately target players attempting to limit or stop their gambling. Many such platforms are promoted online using phrases such as “not on GamStop,” directing users away from UK-licensed operators toward jurisdictions with fewer consumer protections.
Experts monitoring illegal online gambling say this segment of the market has expanded rapidly in recent years and now represents a large portion of the unregulated betting content accessed by UK users. Families affected by gambling addiction have reported that easy access to offshore platforms undermined recovery efforts, citing a lack of effective oversight and safeguards.
For Curaçao, the developments come at a sensitive time. The island has been working to reform and strengthen its gambling regulatory framework through the Curaçao Gaming Authority, amid international pressure to improve enforcement and transparency. While the operators in question hold Curaçao licenses, critics argue that loopholes in oversight allow controversial platforms to continue operating while serving high-risk markets abroad.
Meanwhile, UK authorities have increased enforcement efforts, allocating additional resources and working with technology companies to remove unlicensed operators from search engines and social media. Hundreds of sites have reportedly been blocked or taken down in recent months. However, campaigners say the constant shifting of licenses, company names and jurisdictions makes the problem difficult to contain.
As offshore gambling groups continue to adapt their structures, regulators in both the United Kingdom and Curaçao face growing pressure to close regulatory gaps and ensure that licensing regimes do not facilitate harmful practices. For Curaçao, the renewed spotlight underscores the challenge of balancing its role as an international licensing hub with rising expectations for robust oversight and consumer protection.
