Illegal gambling sites are preying on people trying to protect themselves from gambling harm, The Guardian has revealed. Unlicensed betting sites such as MyStake have been directing vulnerable gamblers to their websites through affiliate links telling people how to bypass GamStop, the UK’s self-exclusion scheme which bans people from gambling sites. Gambling harm costs the economy between £1bn and £2bn, according to government estimates.”“In practice, the sheer number of illegal casinos means they are easy for gamblers to find but very hard for regulators to stop.”Online regulationLast year, the Gambling Commission was allocated an extra £26m over three years to root out illegal gambling sites. After opening up to loved ones about her struggles, she blocked her access to gambling sites and turned her hobby of reselling clothes online into a job. Rachel shared: “I wouldn’t say I’m ever recovered because I’m not.

Source: The Guardian April 10, 2026 09:58 UTC