Key facts
- UK bookmakers Ladbrokes, William Hill, and Betfred owner Fred Done have profited from a deal between their jointly owned content provider, SIS, and an offshore casino network.
- The offshore casino network, Santeda, has been accused of illegally targeting UK gamblers and operating without a license in Spain.
- SIS signed a contract with Santeda in 2022, receiving a percentage of revenues from losing bets.
- The UK bookmakers, as shareholders in SIS, have received at least £37 million in dividends since the Santeda deal was signed.
- The bookmakers had previously warned the UK government about the dangers of illicit offshore casinos.
- Entain, owner of Ladbrokes, has raised concerns with SIS about the Santeda relationship.
Three major UK bookmakers, Ladbrokes, William Hill, and Betfred owner Fred Done, have profited from a lucrative deal between their jointly owned gambling content provider, Sports Information Services (SIS), and an offshore casino network accused of illegally targeting UK gamblers. The arrangement emerged from the Casino Secrets leak, which revealed thousands of confidential files from the gambling regulator in Curaçao.
SIS signed a contract in 2022 with the Santeda online casino network, which has faced accusations of illegally targeting vulnerable UK gamblers and has been fined in Spain for operating without a license. Under the terms of the deal, SIS received a percentage of revenues from losing bets placed via Santeda's brands. The contract reportedly auto-renewed unless terminated.
As shareholders in SIS, Ladbrokes, William Hill, and Fred Done have collectively received at least £37 million in dividends since the Santeda deal was signed, including £30 million in 2023. Ladbrokes, with a 23% stake, is estimated to have received £8.5 million, William Hill (nearly 20%) over £7 million, and Fred Done (8%) nearly £3 million.
This revelation comes despite the bookmakers repeatedly warning the UK government that excessive regulation or taxation could drive customers to rogue offshore casinos. Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes, stated it was not a party to SIS's customer arrangements but takes the relationship with Santeda very seriously and has raised concerns with SIS. Gambling reform campaigner Matt Zarb-Cousin advised the bookmakers to 'get their house in order' and cut ties with the illicit market.