Exposed: Curaçao Casino Network Bypassing UK GamStop, Linked to Millions of Visitors and Tragic Losses

A Joint Probe Shakes Up the Online Gambling Landscape

A collaborative investigation by The Guardian and Investigate Europe, published in early April 2026, has pulled back the curtain on a sprawling network of at least eight unlicensed online casinos targeting UK players, operations run from Curaçao by Santeda International and tied to Georgian businessmen including Tornike Tvauri, Alexander Makashvili, and Mikheil Merebashvili; these sites, such as MyStake, Velobet, and Goldenbet, cleverly sidestep UK self-exclusion tools like GamStop, drawing in an average of 2.3 million unique UK visitors each month from November 2025 through January 2026 according to traffic data analyzed in the report.

What's interesting here is how these platforms operate in plain sight, evading the safeguards meant to protect vulnerable players, while raking in massive engagement from Britain; experts who've tracked similar offshore setups note that such networks thrive because Curaçao's licensing framework, often criticized for lax oversight, allows them to function without the stringent checks imposed elsewhere.

The revelations, hitting newsstands just as spring 2026 gambling discussions heat up in Westminster, highlight a persistent loophole in cross-border digital gambling, where players seeking alternatives to regulated UK sites find themselves on unregulated turf; and while Santeda International holds a Curaçao eGaming license, the probe details how these casinos flout UK-specific protections, turning a blind eye to self-exclusion lists that block access on licensed domestic platforms.

Unpacking the Network: Sites, Owners, and Offshore Roots

At the heart of this exposure sits Santeda International, a Curaçao-registered entity overseeing no fewer than eight online casinos, with MyStake, Velobet, and Goldenbet standing out as key players in the UK market; links to Georgian figures like Tornike Tvauri, who sources indicate manages aspects of the operation, Alexander Makashvili involved in financial flows, and Mikheil Merebashvili connected through shared business records paint a picture of an international web built for evasion.

These sites mirror the look and feel of legitimate casinos, offering slots, table games, and live dealer options powered by various providers, yet they lack the UK Gambling Commission seal that mandates compliance with GamStop; observers point out that players register effortlessly with minimal verification, a tactic that funnels traffic away from protected environments, and data from the investigation reveals peak monthly visits topping 2.3 million uniques from the UK alone during the monitored winter period.

But here's the thing: Curaçao's regulatory body, while issuing licenses like Santeda's, faces ongoing scrutiny from bodies such as the Malta Gaming Authority in the EU for standards that pale in comparison to European norms, allowing operators to advertise aggressively via affiliates adn social media without the geo-blocks required in stricter jurisdictions.

Millions of UK Visits: Dodging Self-Exclusion Barriers

Figures from the Guardian-Investigate Europe analysis show these casinos averaging 2.3 million unique UK visitors monthly between November 2025 and January 2026, a surge that coincides with holiday seasons when gambling spikes; people often turn to non-GamStop options after self-excluding on UK-licensed sites, only to find these Curaçao platforms welcoming them with open arms, bonuses, and unchecked deposit limits.

Take the case of how GamStop works: once enrolled, UK players get barred from all participating sites, but offshore operators like those in the Santeda network ignore the database entirely, since participation remains voluntary for non-UK entities; researchers who've studied self-exclusion efficacy, such as those at the National Council on Problem Gambling in the US, have long warned that such gaps expose players to renewed risks, with studies indicating relapse rates climbing when alternatives bypass barriers.

And it doesn't stop there; marketing tactics, from SEO-optimized landing pages to influencer promotions, funnel UK search traffic straight to these sites, where withdrawal processes drag while deposits flow freely, a pattern the probe documents through player testimonies and server logs.

Real-World Harm: The Tragic Case of Ollie Long

Tragedy underscores the stakes in this story, as the inquest into 36-year-old Ollie Long's suicide in January 2026 ruled gambling a contributing factor, with evidence linking his play to one of the exposed casinos; Long, who had self-excluded via GamStop, slipped through to these unlicensed platforms, racking up debts that spiraled into despair, a narrative the investigation amplifies with coroner's findings and family accounts.

Experts observing gambling harm patterns note that such incidents aren't isolated; data from similar probes reveals suicides tied to unregulated online play rising steadily, and while the Santeda network isn't solely to blame, its role in circumventing protections amplifies vulnerabilities for those already at risk.

It's noteworthy that Long's story broke alongside the traffic stats, driving home how 2.3 million monthly UK visitors translate to widespread exposure, with many chasing losses on sites that offer no mandatory reality checks or deposit caps enforced in the UK.

Industry Ripples: Upgaming Cuts Ties Amid Backlash

Software provider Upgaming, which powered games on several Santeda sites, moved swiftly post-revelation, severing all ties in late March 2026 as the probe's details emerged; this split, confirmed through company statements, marks a rare instance of a supplier pulling back from an offshore operator under public pressure, and it signals how media scrutiny can disrupt supply chains in the opaque world of iGaming.

Turns out, providers like Upgaming face their own reputational risks when linked to non-compliant casinos, especially as jurisdictions worldwide tighten vendor accountability; those who've followed Curaçao operations see this as a potential domino, where one defection pressures others to audit partnerships more rigorously.

Yet the network persists, with mirror sites and domain shifts keeping MyStake and kin accessible, a cat-and-mouse game that investigators describe as standard for resilient offshore setups.

Calls for Action: Pushing for Tighter Global Controls

The April 2026 exposé has amplified voices urging stronger measures to curb these hard-to-stop operations, with stakeholders highlighting the need for international cooperation beyond national borders; while the UK Gambling Commission fields questions on enforcement, parallel efforts in places like Australia through the Australian Gambling Research Centre underscore shared challenges in blocking offshore access.

Researchers advocate tech solutions like mandatory ISP blocks or unified global self-exclusion databases, drawing from models tested in EU pilot programs; people who've studied evasion tactics emphasize that without payment processor clampdowns or advertiser bans, networks like Santeda's will adapt, shifting domains or jurisdictions as needed.

So where does this leave UK players? Tools like GamStop remain vital, but the probe reveals their limits against determined offshore players, prompting fresh debates on liability for enablers from software firms to banks.

Conclusion: A Wake-Up Call for Cross-Border Gambling Oversight

This Guardian-Investigate Europe bombshell from April 2026 lays bare the vulnerabilities in online gambling's global patchwork, where a Curaçao outfit like Santeda International, backed by Georgian interests, siphons millions of UK visitors past GamStop defenses, fueling harms as stark as Ollie Long's fate while providers like Upgaming scramble to distance themselves; data on 2.3 million monthly uniques from late 2025 underscores the scale, and as regulators worldwide eye reforms, the ball's now in their court to bridge these gaps before more tragedies unfold.

Observers keep watch, knowing that exposing one network often unearths others lurking in the shadows, a reminder that digital borders demand smarter, unified strategies to protect players on all sides of the equation.