UK Bookmakers Receive Dividends Linked to Offshore Casino Agreement

The recent "Casino Secrets" leak from Curaçao’s gambling regulator has brought attention to a 2022 agreement between Sports Information Services and the Santeda offshore casino network, and three major UK bookmakers have received dividends connected to that arrangement. Ladbrokes under Entain, William Hill under Evoke, and Betfred under Fred Done hold stakes in SIS, and those stakes produced at least £37 million in dividends for the shareholders since the deal began, with £30 million distributed in 2023 alone according to records reviewed in the files.

Public statements from the same companies have highlighted concerns that higher taxes or stricter rules on slot machines could push customers toward unlicensed offshore operators. The leaked documents show SIS provided data feeds and related services to Santeda, an operator accused of targeting UK players despite legal restrictions. The contract included language that barred use of the services inside the United Kingdom, yet the arrangement still generated revenue that flowed back through dividends to the UK shareholders.

Details of the Agreement and Dividend Flow

Companies House filings document the dividend payments to the shareholders of SIS, and the timing coincides with the start of the Santeda contract in 2022. The three bookmakers maintain that information barriers prevented them from knowing the specific counterparties involved, and they have stated that the contractual prohibition on UK-facing activity was in place. Observers note that the same companies continue to participate in industry discussions about upcoming budget measures on slot machine taxation scheduled for later in 2026.

Critics have highlighted the apparent inconsistency between the dividend receipts and the industry messaging around offshore risks. The companies involved have responded that corporate structures and information barriers kept the parent groups from direct knowledge of the Santeda relationship. The contract language restricting UK use remains on record, yet the leak has prompted renewed scrutiny ahead of the 2026 budget deliberations on slot taxes.

Industry Reactions and Ongoing Scrutiny

Industry observers have examined how the dividend figures connect to broader debates about regulation and offshore competition. Data from the leaked files indicate that Santeda maintained operations that drew UK traffic, and the revenue share passed through to SIS shareholders in the form of the reported £37 million total. The three bookmakers continue to operate their domestic betting and gaming businesses while facing questions about the separation between their SIS investment and the downstream client list.

Further analysis of the documents shows that the 2022 agreement formed part of SIS’s expansion into international content supply, and the dividend payments accelerated in 2023. Those who have reviewed the filings note that the companies cited standard corporate governance procedures as the reason they remained unaware of the specific Santeda arrangement. The Guardian report on the leak has placed the story in the context of preparations for the autumn budget and potential changes to slot machine taxation.

Conclusion

The revelations from the Curaçao leak continue to circulate among regulators and industry participants as discussions about slot taxes advance. The documented dividend payments of at least £37 million, including the £30 million recorded in 2023, link the three UK bookmakers to the 2022 SIS-Santeda contract through their ownership stakes. The companies maintain that information barriers and contractual restrictions kept them separate from any UK-facing activity, while the public record now shows the financial flows that followed the agreement.