Gambling Commission examines UK bookmaker over offshore betting and tax concerns

Documents accidentally submitted to the UK Gambling Commission by a major bookmaker have raised questions over whether offshore betting activity may be depriving the UK exchequer of millions in gambling duties and corporate taxes.

The Gambling Commission has since requested additional financial data from the unnamed company, which takes billions of pounds in bets from British customers each year.

The Guardian reported that the bookmaker mistakenly included documents referencing transactions with overseas entities during a routine regulatory submission. The information, hidden in white text on a white background, was noticed by the Commission’s staff and led to preliminary inquiries that could develop into a full investigation.

The documents indicated possible ties between the bookmaker’s UK operations and offshore entities potentially handling unlicensed bets from high-stakes British customers. Such arrangements, if proven, could result in significant losses to public revenue due to unpaid gambling duties and corporate taxes.

Investigators are also assessing whether the company redirected some of its “VIP” clients to offshore partners to bypass the regulatory checks required in the UK, including anti–money laundering controls and responsible gambling measures. One industry source quoted by The Guardian remarked, “If you’re offshoring VIPs, your licence is toast.”

The Gambling Commission has demanded granular details of the bookmaker’s financial transactions and the nature of its links to offshore entities identified in the accidentally disclosed documents. A finding that the company facilitated offshore betting could result in the loss of its UK licence and individual executive licences.

Any evidence suggesting tax avoidance could also attract further review from HM Revenue & Customs and law enforcement. Rather than immediately engaging with the regulator after realizing its submission error, the bookmaker reportedly sought legal counsel

The company, which sponsors sporting events and maintains connections with figures in politics and sports, has denied any involvement in offshore betting operations. It also stated that it was not aware of any such concerns raised by the Gambling Commission.

Tracing offshore gambling networks remains a challenge for regulators. Many offshore betting entities operate under licences from island jurisdictions with more limited disclosure requirements, such as Curaçao in the Caribbean or Anjouan in the Comoros Islands. These regions have become major centers for online gambling registration.

The Gambling Commission has declined to comment on the scope of its investigation. However, investigators remain focused on the offshore transactions uncovered in the mistakenly submitted documents and their potential links to the bookmaker’s legitimate UK business.