Chronological coverage updated 1st October 2026 10:00.
Update 1 · 1st October 2026
Leak Reveals UK Bookmakers Benefited from Offshore Gambling Deal
Major UK gambling operators that have spent years warning the government against strict industry regulation have indirectly derived financial returns from an offshore casino network, according to leaked regulatory files. Documents obtained from the gambling regulator on the Caribbean island of Curaçao detail commercial arrangements between UK content supplier Sports Information Services (SIS) and the Santeda online casino network.
SIS is majority-owned by major British betting firms, with Ladbrokes holding a 23% stake, William Hill holding nearly 20%, and Betfred owner Fred Done holding an 8% stake while serving as a director. The leaked 2022 contract shows SIS agreed to provide Santeda websites with live horse racing, greyhound racing, esports content, and data used to process and settle customer wagers in exchange for a percentage of revenues from losing bets.
Regulatory warnings and dividend distributions
Santeda holds a Curaçao licence that does not permit it to operate in jurisdictions such as the UK or the US. Despite this, previous investigations found Santeda websites illegally targeted UK consumers, including marketing directly to individuals seeking to restrict their gambling. Industry sources indicated that the shareholder bookmakers were unaware of the specific commercial arrangement made by SIS due to internal compliance controls governing rival commercial data.
Shareholders of Sports Information Services have received at least £37m in dividend distributions since the 2022 Santeda agreement was executed. — according to Companies House filings.
The revelation stands in stark contrast to public positions taken by UK betting executives, who have repeatedly cautioned that higher taxes or tighter consumer protections would push gamblers toward unlicensed offshore operators. Entain, the parent company of Ladbrokes, stated that it was not party to individual commercial contracts negotiated by SIS but confirmed it had raised immediate concerns with the supplier upon learning of the arrangement.
- Leaked documents show UK-owned SIS supplied betting data and content to Curaçao-licensed Santeda under a revenue-sharing model.
- Major UK bookmakers received a share of £37m in dividends paid out by SIS since the agreement was implemented.
- The revelations highlight oversight gaps between licensed UK gambling corporations and their underlying supply chains.