Isle of Man regulator warns of fake licence claims on sites

The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has warned that some gambling websites are displaying copies of gambling licences to look as if it regulates them. In a public warning on 14 October 2026, the regulator said it had found sites "displaying copies of gambling licences and regulatory information in a misleading manner, in an apparent attempt to create the false impression that they are licensed and regulated by the GSC". It says it has taken action to have these websites removed.

What a licence actually covers

The central line of the warning is worth quoting in full: "a licence is issued to a specific operator and approved domain name(s). The presence of a licence document or the Isle of Man Government crest on a website does not, in itself, confirm that the website is authorised by, or operating under the supervision of, the GSC."

Put simply, a licence scan or a regulator's crest in a site's footer is an image, and images can be copied. What matters is whether that operator, and the exact web address you are on, appear on the regulator's own records. In July, the GSC said its website lists the 40 approved web addresses of sites run by its licence holders, alongside its licensee registers.

Nine addresses added on 12 October

The GSC also keeps a public list of websites it has identified as operating without the appropriate licence. On 12 October it added nine addresses, all numbered variations of four names: bahisliga, cirobahis, lavivabet and betrio. Another cirobahis address was added on 9 October.

By our count of the list as read on 17 October, it held 162 entries dating back to 2013, 29 of them dated 2026.

Not only an Isle of Man problem

The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) reported a similar problem in its 2025 annual report: of 109 URLs it reviewed for links to unregulated gaming, 42 contained fraudulent references to the MGA or its licensees, and it added them to its public list. Seals are under scrutiny elsewhere too: Curaçao's regulator has said its digital licence seal will be affected after a breach of its licensing portal (see our report).

How to check a licence yourself

• Go to the regulator's own website directly rather than through a link on the casino.
• Look up the operator in the regulator's licensee register and check that the web address you are using is covered.
• Treat a seal or licence image on a site as decoration, not proof, until you have found the operator and the web address on the register yourself.

The GSC adds that anyone who thinks they may have been a victim of fraud should report it to their local police and contact their bank or payment provider as soon as possible. Websites falsely claiming a GSC licence can be reported to the GSC's Enforcement & Intelligence Division at gscenforcement@gov.im, and concerns about fraudulent sites linked to the Isle of Man can also go to the Isle of Man Cyber Security Centre through its online form.

For more on offshore sites and licence checks, see Michigan's order telling 33 offshore gambling sites to stop and Gamban's warning about the similarly named Gambana casino.

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