Sports Information Services (SIS) is currently embroiled in controversy over an alleged arrangement with Santeda, a gambling operator based in Curaçao. Details, revealed through a leak from Casino Secrets, suggest that SIS contracted with Santeda in 2022 to provide income based on the operator’s gambling losses. This contract, which spans two years, includes an automatic renewal clause unless either side opts to terminate it.
Previously, SIS has faced accusations of exploiting vulnerable gamblers in the UK and was penalized by Spanish authorities for engaging in gambling operations without a license.
Entain, which has a 23% stake in SIS, along with William Hill, which holds a stake of less than 20%, and Fred Done, founder of Betfred, who possesses an 8% interest, have each claimed ignorance about SIS’s deal with Santeda. In 2023, SIS distributed £30 million in dividends to its shareholders, raising questions about its financial management amid these allegations.
The arrangement has sparked outrage among campaigners, particularly as these three operators have advocated for stricter measures against unregulated gambling while simultaneously expressing concerns that increased taxes could inadvertently bolster the black market.
Stella David, CEO of Entain, stated, "Not a party to the commercial or customer arrangements SIS decides to strike. Now that this relationship has come to light, we take it very seriously and have raised our concerns to SIS."
Matt Zarb-Cousin, co-founder and Director of External Affairs at Gamban, pointed out the hypocrisy in the situation, saying, "While the UK’s biggest gambling firms have been warning about the risks of growing the illicit market if the government increases tax and regulation, the very same firms are profiting from it. If the gambling industry is concerned about the black market, it needs to get its own house in order by cutting all ties with it."
In response, SIS stated that it requires its clients to market its products only in jurisdictions where they possess the necessary licenses. The company emphasized its commitment to ensuring compliance with all legal requirements, asserting that it takes necessary action—up to contract termination—if it detects any failure to adhere to these terms.
