Advice - Unlicensed casinos?

**blackjacked** · 2 December 2020, 4:33 pm

Hi everyone, newbie to the forums here, but have been reading as a non-member for a number of years. I've been toying with the the idea of a bitcoin gambling affiliate portal but I have a few questions I'm hoping to get some answers to. Firstly, I'm based in the UK and my intention is to create a site focused on Bitcoin gambling. My concern is that a large number of the bitcoin-only casinos may not be licensed. Is it a legal offence in the UK (or otherwise) to list/feature unlicensed bitcoin casinos on a website, as an affiliate (using tracking links etc).

Thanks in advance for the help.

**universal4** · 2 December 2020, 4:41 pm

Only a licensed lawyer can give actual legal advise, but you may get many suggestions, you can then ask a lawyer.

Rick
Universal4

**Former Member 14** · 3 December 2020, 3:25 am

If you were not blocking UK traffic, from accessing non UKGC licensed casinos, then it's likely you'd be leaving yourself wide open to be prosecuted. This becomes a concern for you because you located in the UK. Lets say you were located New Zealand, while you'd still be technically breaking the law (promoting non UKGC licensed casinos to UK residents), because of your locale, prosecution would be very highly unlikely...

Same with my situation here in Australia.

The 2017 IGA (Interactive Gambling Act) makes it illegal to promote any online gambling venue which is NOT AU licensed/regulated, to Australian citizens living in Australia and/or its Territories.

While affiliates in other countries STILL target AU, and some casinos STILL accept AU players, it's 100% illegal to do so. But the catch here is, the Australian Government is not going to prosecute the people. The Bill does however state (words to the affect of), if someone travel to Australia, and they've been marketing illegally, then they risk being apprehended at the airport by the Australia Federal Police, and could face criminal charges.

I'm not 100% savvy with the UK laws - I don't market to the UK.

But it seems they have similar mindset as the AU Government, in relation to where one resides.

**blackjacked** · 3 December 2020, 7:50 am

Thanks for the reply, that is very helpful. So from that, my next question would be... is simply running a gambling affiliate portal (which is accessible to visitors from around the world) considered to be 'promoting' to other countries, even if no paid advertising of any kind is being applied in other countries? So, for example if I blocked the site from UK visitors, but someone in Australia can still access the website, is that considered promoting to customers in Australia? Thanks in advance again for any response.

**kiwi** · 9 December 2020, 2:44 am

It's a difficult one.

My advice would simply be to avoid UK, USA, AU entirely. There is a whole world out there full of countries that in any event have higher value players and convert more easily.

Bitcoin is a tough niche without a gigantic amount of choices on what casinos to promote.

If I was starting up a new site I'd be looking more along the lines of what games are coming out... which countries like that providers games.... is it going to be popular... Can I get an exact match.... Can I find expired domains to give a head start to the *cough* *cough* - linking strategy.

Anyway wishing you the best of luck.

Don't worry too much about the authorities till you at least have some volume of traffic.. nobody is coming knocking.

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