GAMSTOP CEO Fiona Palmer has hit out at rogue affiliate sites promoting online casinos that boast about not being linked to the UK self-exclusion tool.
Speaking to EGR on the sidelines of iGB L!VE in London, Palmer expressed her disdain for any platform that would look to target vulnerable people.
A Google search for ‘casinos not on gamstop’ brings up 2.4 million results. Since 2020, licensed UK online operators have been required to integrate GAMSTOP.
The websites promoting non-GAMSTOP casinos are increasingly ‘parasitic SEO’ operations, whereby a company buys a high-ranking website before turning it in a gambling affiliate, including promoting unlicensed sites.
For example, The Brexit Party, which was the forerunner to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, has now been transformed into an affiliate site for non-GAMSTOP casinos.
However, there remains promotions for some licensed UK sites on the portal. EGR has confirmed with those operators that there is no commercial relationship in place, and they are taking steps to remove their association.
EGR understands that a tactic some non-GAMSTOP affiliates deploy is to place licensed operators on its site to promote legitimacy, before embedding unlicensed alternatives.
Speaking to EGR, Palmer stated: “It’s absolutely abhorrent that there are people out there who want to specifically target people at a vulnerable time of their life. These players put their hands up and take the initiative to sign up to GAMSTOP.
“To then use GAMSTOP as a means to target people, I just cannot comprehend why people would want to do that. If you are a true human being who cares about other human beings, why would you do that?”
Back in Septmber 2024, GAMSTOP surpassed the landmark of 500,000 users, though Palmer confirmed the number is now closer to 580,000.
She also said the non-profit organisation has been working closely with both the Gambling Commission (GC) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to tackle the issue of non-GAMSTOP affiliates.
She added: “From the absolute outset, we’ve worked closely with the Gambling Commission, and we actually have good working relationship there in terms of the illegal sites.
“What we see, and what we’re aware of, we’ve been feeding into [the GC]. We’ve also fed information through to the DCMS.
“We very much support the Gambling Commission obtaining new powers under the new regulations coming through parliament, and we applaud the work that Andrew [Rhodes, GC CEO,] and the team are doing with the other regulators.”
Palmer also called for a coordinated effort between regulators from different countries to combat the problem.
She continued: “One approach is to have a universal, joined-up approach between regulators, because if it’s licensed operators in other jurisdictions that are targeting these GAMSTOP users, then there’s no question in my mind that they’re not fit to have a licence.
“We’re a small team, so we can’t address this on our own. We’re a not-for-profit organisation, but we do try and use our voice where we can, as well to try raise awareness.
“There are other industries and sectors that can help with it too, such as the financial sector as people are paying to use these platforms.
“There’s always going to be some form of illegal markets, through innovation and new technology as that develops. Don’t give them a platform to have their voice. If you remove the platform, it makes it less interesting.”
Back in April, GAMSTOP chair Jenny Watson announced her intention to step down from the role by September 2025.
The post Affiliates promoting non-GAMSTOP casinos are “absolutely abhorrent”, says CEO first appeared on EGR Intel.
Fiona Palmer calls for a joined-up regulatory approach across multiple jurisdictions to target bad actors driving self-excluded players towards the black market
The post Affiliates promoting non-GAMSTOP casinos are “absolutely abhorrent”, says CEO first appeared on EGR Intel.