Three prominent UK bookmakers, Ladbrokes, William Hill, and Betfred owner Fred Done, have benefited from a deal with one of the world's largest offshore casinos, Santeda, according to revelations from the Casino Secrets leak. This comes despite the bookmakers repeatedly issuing warnings about the dangers of the illicit gambling market.
The arrangement, detailed in confidential files from the Curaçao gambling regulator, shows that Sports Information Services (SIS), a content provider part-owned by the three bookmakers, signed a contract with the Santeda online casino network in 2022. Santeda has faced accusations of illegally targeting UK gamblers and has been fined in Spain for unlicensed operations.
The bookmakers, who collectively own more than 50% of SIS, are understood to have been unaware of the deal when it was signed. They have reportedly received a share of tens of millions of pounds in dividends paid out by SIS since the contract with Santeda began. Ladbrokes is estimated to have received £8.5m, William Hill over £7m, and Fred Done nearly £3m from their stakes in SIS.
The leaked contract indicates that SIS agreed to provide Santeda websites with live sports content and data for two years, with an auto-renewal clause. Under the terms, SIS received a percentage of revenues from losing bets placed via Santeda's brands. While the contract does not permit the use of SIS data in the UK, a previous investigation reportedly found SIS supplied information to Santeda websites that were illegally targeting UK customers.