UK gambling content firm supplied offshore casinos as bookmakers warned of illicit market
A leaked 2022 contract shows that Sports Information Services (SIS), a UK gambling content provider partly owned by Ladbrokes, William Hill and Betfred owner Fred Done, agreed to supply services to the Santeda offshore casino network. The revelation matters because the bookmakers have warned that regulation and tax rises could push customers towards unlicensed operators, while their companies have received dividends from SIS since the deal began.
SIS agreed to provide Santeda with live sports content and betting data for two years, with automatic renewal unless either side ended the contract; it received a share of revenue from losing bets. It is unclear whether the deal remains active or how much SIS earned, and the bookmakers are understood not to have known about it when it was signed. Company filings indicate SIS shareholders received at least £37m in dividends since 2022, including £30m in 2023; Ladbrokes’ 23% stake suggests payouts of about £8.5m.
- SIS contracted with offshore casino network Santeda in 2022.
- Bookmakers part-owning SIS have warned about unlicensed gambling.
- Shareholders received at least £37m in dividends since the deal began.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “UK bookmakers that warned over illicit market had deal with offshore casinos”.