MyStake parent moves black market brands to new licence
Summary
The group behind MyStake — linked to unregulated brands used by UK customers such as Velobet, Donbet and Goldenbet — has shifted its sites from a Santeda International B.V Curaçao licence to a GTW B.V B2C licence. The GTW licence was granted in June and shows as expired last December, but under Curaçao law the company can operate while renewal is pending. The move follows scrutiny from GAMRS and media investigations that exposed large volumes of UK betting and weak consumer protections.
Key Points
- Brands previously licensed to Santeda International B.V now list GTW B.V as the licence holder.
- GTW B.V holds a B2C Curaçao licence that was granted in June and recorded as expired in December, though trading can continue pending renewal under local law.
- Sites are thought to target UK punters and use “not-on-Gamstop” affiliate advertising to attract self‑excluded players.
- Investigations (GAMRS and The Guardian) suggest £1.2bn was wagered on MyStake and £3.51bn across the wider Santeda network in 2025.
- GAMRS whistleblower evidence alleges aggressive retention tactics, refusal to honour self‑exclusion and insufficient player safeguards.
- The licence move was handled by a corporate services provider in Curaçao; industry figures say switching licences is a common black‑market tactic to evade regulatory pressure.
Context and relevance
This is significant for UK regulators, operators and player‑protection groups because it shows how offshore operators reconfigure corporate and licence arrangements to keep trading despite scrutiny. It highlights ongoing gaps in safeguarding self‑excluded gamblers and challenges in enforcing accountability across jurisdictions.
Why should I read this?
Quick and blunt: if you care about keeping UK punters safe or follow how offshore iGaming dodges rules, this gives the latest playbook. It tells you who’s involved, how licences are being repurposed, and why campaigners are alarmed — all in a neat, skimmable package so you don’t have to read the full reports unless you want to.
Author note
Punchy: the figures and whistleblower claims are worrying. If you work in regulation, compliance, payments or player protection, read the full piece. If you just need the essentials, the bullets above do the job.
Source
Source: https://next.io/news/casino/mystake-parent-moves-brands-new-licence/