An affiliate purporting to be linked to Betfred is promoting illegal casinos in Ireland and across Europe, EGR can exclusively reveal.
The Betfred.ie domain masquerades as a landing page for new customers to sign up with the Warrington-based operator.
There is no suggestion that Betfred is at fault or complicit in the operation of the Betfred.ie site.
As well as the Betfred logo, the site’s top banner includes tabs for ‘Login’, ‘App’, ‘Payment’ and ‘Bonus’.
Upon clicking those tabs and following a ‘Register Now’ icon, users are redirected to illegal sites.
Similar pathways exist when clicking on tiles for featured games and bonuses purported to be on the Betfred site.
Towards the website’s footer, links for blogs, FAQs, responsible gambling and other secondary navigation links result in the user being directed to unlicensed sites.
The footer also includes tabs for various geographies, which click through to the identical bogus information page.
Examples of unlicensed sites the affiliate links redirect to include Spin Alto, Bet4Star and Kaasino.
Betfred.ie mimicking the real Betfred comes as the operator confirmed it was taking a “temporary pause” in Ireland at the end of June.
The operator told customers it would be unavailable from 30 June as Ireland flicks the switch on its new regulatory regime from 1 July under the purview of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI).
Customers were told to withdraw balances before 30 June and not to place bets that settle after 29 June. Pre-existing World Cup bets will be honoured.
As reported by the Racing Post, Betfred said it was “taking a temporary pause in the Irish market, while we align with the new GRAI gambling regulations”, before adding: “We hope to be back soon.”
The new regulatory regime in Ireland will come into force as part of the Gambling Regulation Act 2024.
The Act established the GRAI, which has been operational since March 2025. The regulator has the power to award licences and sanction fines of up to €20m (£17.3m).
The GRAI began accepting and processing applications in February 2026.
EGR has contacted Betfred for comment and to report what we found.
Earlier this month, EGR reported that Bally’s and Betty had also seen their brands mimicked by affiliates promoting black market sites.
The post Exclusive: Betfred branding mimicked by black market affiliate first appeared on EGR Intel.
Betfred.ie URL includes links to unlicensed operators and is unearthed while bookmaker implements a “temporary pause” in Ireland amid new licensing regime
The post Exclusive: Betfred branding mimicked by black market affiliate first appeared on EGR Intel.