Tesco Reports Fake Casino Ads as Unlicensed Operators Target UK Brands
Tesco has reported fake online casino advertising to City of London police after its brand was used to promote an unlicensed gambling site.
Ads for a fake Tesco casino appeared on Facebook and linked to a website claiming to be the supermarket’s official casino. The site remains accessible in the UK but does not hold the licence required to offer gambling services in Great Britain.
Tesco also referred the case to the National Cyber Security Centre and Report Fraud. City of London police confirmed that it had received the complaint.
Other companies have faced similar impersonation. Barclays and Monzo branding has appeared in casino promotions, while licensed gambling brands Coral and Gala Bingo have also been copied by unlicensed operators.
Sports stars including Lewis Hamilton, Tyson Fury, Jude Bellingham and Bruno Fernandes have had their images used without consent. Another casino used an apparent lookalike of Erling Haaland.
Meta removed several of the ads after receiving questions from the Guardian.
Bejay Patel, managing director of UK and Ireland at Entain, said:
Any casino masquerading as a licensed operator was exploiting British consumers and legitimate businesses alike and paying no taxes, while some of the world’s largest technology platforms continue to profit from hosting their adverts.
The Gambling Commission has also raised concerns about the issue and said it works to remove unlicensed gambling websites targeting UK consumers.
