The island Gambling Supervision Commission has taken action to remove 30 gambling websites this year that were falsely claiming to be licensed and regulated in the Isle of Man.
A public warning has been issued by the GSC urging consumers to check that e-gaming websites are genuine.
It shows that no fewer than 30 have been added to the list this year, including 10 this month alone.
In a statement, the regulator said: ‘The GSC has recently become aware of a number of websites that are displaying copies of gambling licences and regulatory information in a misleading manner, in an apparent attempt to create the false impression that they are licensed and regulated by the GSC.
‘The GSC has taken action to have these websites removed and wishes to remind consumers that a licence is issued to a specific operator and approved domain name(s).
‘The presence of a licence document or the Isle of Man Government crest on a website does not, in itself, confirm that the website is authorised by, or operating under the supervision of, the GSC.
‘Consumers are urged to exercise caution before engaging with any gambling website and to verify that the operator holds a current and valid licence.’
The GSC website includes a register of all current licence holders and also one listing all former licence holders.
‘Anyone who believes that they may have been a victim of fraud, should report the matter to their local police station and contact their bank or payment provider as soon as possible,’ the regulator added.
Many of the websites recently added to the GSC’s list on unlicensed gambling websites include the word ‘bahis’ which is Turkish for ‘bet’.
Authorities in Türkiye have launched a crackdown on illegal betting. The country’s Interior Ministry announced last month that it had initiated proceedings against 177 suspects in illegal betting operations in eight provinces.
Some 17.75 billion lira thought to be linked to suspicious financial activity had been seized.
In July, the GSC revealed that it had co-operated with the authorities in Türkiye and other countries to ensure Isle of Man operators are not operating unlawfully in their jurisdictions and to take down illegal sites, ensuring consumer protection.
It said this demonstrated its ‘willingness to assist counterparts in other jurisdictions in addressing illegal gambling activity and to protect the integrity and reputation of the Isle of Man’s framework’.
The GSC said concerns regarding fraudulent websites linked to the Isle of Man can also be reported to the island’s Cyber Security Centre using its online reporting form: https://csc.gov.im/cyber-concerns-online-reporting-form/
Anyone who finds websites falsely claiming to be licenced by the GSC, or who become aware of unlicensed gambling activity being conducted in or from the Isle of Man, are encouraged to contact the GSC’s Enforcement & Intelligence Division by emailing [email protected]