Key facts
- Unregulated gambling firms are targeting individuals as young as 14 on social media.
- Over 30 unregulated gambling sites, including Stake and Rainbet, are accused of targeting UK users aged 14-25.
- AI-generated personas and workarounds are used to bypass gambling restrictions.
- Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Kick, and Twitch are being used for promotion.
- The UK government is considering legislation to ban social media for those under 16 and introduce curfews for 16-18 year olds.
- Coordinated affiliate campaigns by betting tipster accounts, some linked to football clubs, have been identified.
Unregulated gambling firms are reportedly targeting individuals as young as 14 on social media platforms, utilizing AI-generated tipsters and influencers to exploit teenagers. Data collected by OSINT researchers indicates that over 30 such sites are actively targeting UK users primarily aged between 14 and 25. These platforms are accused of promoting services that offer VPN-based access and identity verification workarounds to circumvent gambling restrictions.
The report highlights the use of AI-generated YouTube personas designed to guide UK users on bypassing these restrictions. Furthermore, coordinated affiliate campaigns have been identified, with multiple football fan and tipster accounts simultaneously posting identical betting tips, often without disclosing commercial relationships. This activity spans platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Kick, and Twitch.
This trend emerges amidst growing concerns about a shift towards a gambling black market, potentially fueled by recent taxes on legal gambling and affordability checks. The upcoming summer will also see Premier League clubs removing gambling and casino brands from front-of-shirt sponsorships. Bejay Patel of Entain has called the research a "wake-up call" to government, regulators, and law enforcement, questioning their capacity to effectively combat such coordinated illegal promotion across global social media.
In response to broader concerns about online safety for young people, the UK government has announced proposed legislation to ban social media use for individuals under 16 and implement a curfew for those aged 16 to 18, set to take effect next year.