Unlicensed casinos, Spurs (again) and court cases… | My week in iGaming #13
From Rotterdam to Gibraltar to Sweden, to London, Northern Ireland and to Curaçao I’ve been casting my eye over a few tasty stories in recent weeks.
(Far) too much of a ‘good thing’
Really? Please no. As much as I like football, a World Cup Finals tournament with 64 teams is just plain ridiculous. But that is what FIFA is apparently considering for the 2030 World Cup. The last few World Cups saw 32 countries battling it out over about 5 weeks. The next World Cup in 2026 will see 48 countries in the finals tournament in Mexico, the US and Canada.
Why? Why the over-saturation? We all know why – because in 2025 (and going back many years, to be fair) top level football has only been about one thing: making money. But at what point does that impact the quality of the tournament, the games and the memories created?
With 64 teams you might as well go the whole hog and skip the qualifiers and just have every FIFA member at the Finals. And what does it mean for domestic competitions around the world with a World Cup that could go on for months, not weeks? Not one of FIFA’s better ideas. Actually, I’m trying to think of a good one, just one, in the last few years.
Illegal casino use in the UK set to grow
‘Baffling’ is how one industry insider describes recent decisions by the UKGC to introduce financial vulnerability checks and stake limits. ‘It’s going to drive millions in the direction of unlicensed, risky casinos. If they’d had a good look at what’s been happening in some countries I don’t believe they would have done this.’
This sentiment is largely echoed in a report, Evaluation Report on Black Market Gambling, recently published by Deal Me Out. The report focuses on the current UK situation – a situation likely to get worse with the new over-regulating regulations being introduced.
Some ‘highlights’ in the report include:
- An estimated 420,000 school children involved in black market gambling, largely using virtual currencies through blockchain-based platforms
- A benefits claimant depositing £129k over 14 days
- 67% of participants accessed unlicensed sites to avoid Gamstop self-exclusion restrictions
- 61% of addicted respondents said they were denied access when trying to withdraw winnings
Truly alarming. The UKGC and other government agencies really do have their work cut out.
Sweden points finger firmly in direction of Curaçao
Illegal gambling in Sweden isn’t quite as rife as in some European countries but it’s getting rifier (that might not be a word but you get my drift). And they’re not happy about it – particularly with Curaçao, where a big chunk of their errant online gamblers seem to head, virtually.
It’s estimated that 14% of Sweden’s online gamblers do so at unlicensed sites. And with a big bad world to choose from, nearly 40% of those gambling at illegal sites do so at sites based in Curaçao. Quite a marketing achievement for a little country that hardly anyone knows anything about or even where it is. (Here’s Curaçao’s Wikipedia page if you’re interested.)
The Swedish Gambling Authority (SGA) is well and truly miffed with the little nation, last year banning Curaçao-licensed Small House BV for allegedly targeting Swedish customers without a licence.
The relatively newly-formed SGA is currently looking at ways to further expand its powers.
Election date betting skulduggery
Blimey, you’d think they’d know better, wouldn’t you? Don’t know the rules? Know the rules but thought they could get away with it? What is it with these people?
The Gambling Commission has charged 15 people including ex-MP Craig Williams, Jeremy Hunt, a former policeman and several people working with or for the Conservative Party. Russell George a Tory MP in the Welsh Parliament also had his collar felt. Oh, and there were a few other not-so-random bods as well.
So what evidently must have happened was word got out and then spread about when then PM, Rishi Sunak, was planning on calling a General Election. So, people in the know (in the should-know-better) went and, presumably, placed their bets. And some, presumably, passed the information on. In another industry you’d call this insider trading.
Baffling really. Those charged are likely reasonably well-educated, have (or have had) positions of some authority or status (many within politics). What did they think was going to happen? Greed and stupidity – kind of sums up politicians and their cronies in this 21st century so far.
Just carry on sir, we’ll give you all your money back anyway
Here’s an interesting one from the Netherlands. It goes back to 2014 when ‘Eric’ (as he was named in court) started betting at a few online casinos operated by the likes of Oranje Casino, Kroon Casino and Betsson.
Eric lost. Eric lost a lot but he kept on plugging away, ultimately ploughing over £300,000 into the online casinos.
But, and it’s a big but – those sites weren’t licensed when ‘Eric’ was spaffing his, presumably, hard-earned Euros, Guilders or whatever. The sites were operating illegally and a decade or so after Eric’s adventure began it all came to court. Eric got back his £300k+. And, get this, he got well over £100k on top for ‘interest’ and had his court costs paid for.
Eric was represented in court by Dynamiet Nederland, whose representative said: “This ruling confirms that affected gamblers can not only reclaim their losses but are also entitled to interest on interest. Built up annually, this interest compensation can therefore increase considerably, as is now evident.” No shit, Sherlock!
So, essentially a reckless run of bad luck ended up turning into a reasonably healthy investment on a technicality. Tbh, unlicensed or not, I think it sounds a bit tough on the casinos who had to cough up the dough for Eric’s (mis)adventures.
Ex-Mansion CEO a no-show (or has he done a runner?)
Another courtroom drama unfolded a couple of weeks ago, this time in Gibraltar, when Karel Manasco, former CEO of the Mansion Group failed to show on a contempt of court charge. An arrest warrant was issued. Manasco is also, and perhaps more importantly, accused of embezzling over £2m from Mansion during 2018 and 2019 through payments to a company called White Wizard Media.
Manasco is also accused of paying himself bonuses he wasn’t entitled to. The accused’s assets, to the tune of £5m, were frozen in February.
To explain his no-show, Manasco claims he has been treated unfairly (‘antipathy and hostility’ shown towards him) by the court and the judicial system in Gibraltar. Manasco’s sentencing for the contempt charge has been adjourned until 14 May. Question is… will he show?
Tottenham hire ex-Arsenal CEO
With things going from bad to worse to awful on the pitch under knockabout Aussie larrikin boss Ange ‘Postenoclu’ the Middlesex club have made a big splash in the corporate transfer market, appointing Vinai Venkatesham as their new CEO. Venkatesham was at Tottenham’s rivals, Arsenal, for yonks in senior management roles culminating in his CEO-ship between 2020 and 2024.
Under-fire Tottenham supremo Daniel Levy said: “I have known Vinai for many years… I am personally delighted that he has agreed to join our Board as we build for success.” (That’s a big building job, Dan, if you’re talking about what happens on the pitch.)
Venkatesham, who takes up his new position in the summer, said: “I’m excited to be joining Tottenham Hotspur… this is an exceptional opportunity to work with Daniel, the Board and all of the staff, to take the club forward.”
“Naturally,” Venkatesham added, “it’s a backwards step for me after being at Arsenal all those years but I relish a challenge and this will certainly be a challenge. Daniel did say they’d also register me as a player because they’re a bit weak in that department at the moment.”
Ok, I made that last bit up.
Footnote: In happier times (for all concerned) back in 2006-2010, Mansion was the main shirt sponsor of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
PFA NI team with Gamban to protect young players
Not often much club football-related news comes out of Northern Ireland these days, however one story leapt out at me the other day. The Professional Footballers Association in the province has entered into a relationship with Gamban – the online gambling blocking software company.
Young men, a bit restless, probably with more money in their pockets than their shelf-stacking former schoolmates - what could possibly go wrong? We’ve heard enough stories about young footballers and gambling to know a partnership with Gamban sounds like a good idea – both practically and commercially. It’s hard not to think it should be rolled out further.
Like a rocket
In a bit of a shock it was 33-1 Nick Rockett, ridden by Patrick Mullins that took out this year’s Grand National ahead of favourite (and last year’s winner) I Am Maximus. Always good to see an outsider win a big race. Keeps it all honest.
And that will do for now.