A little thread on why independence matters in journalism. Together with @investigate-europe.eu, the Guardian has been investigating the dangerous illegal casinos trade. 🧵

"Online casinos with no identification checks are the Holy Grail!" Our latest investigation found that AI chatbots routinely promote illicit casinos when answering gambling-related questions. They even tell players how to avoid Gamstop's self-exclusion. www.investigate-europe.eu/posts/ai-cha...

Star streamers steer millions of Europeans to unlicensed online casinos Our new investigation reveals how social media influencers are promoting unlicensed betting sites on YouTube and Twitch to their legions of followers and profit from their losses. Read on @investigate-europe.eu

Last year, online investment scams cost Europeans €4bn. With AI, deepfakes & fake trading platforms, fraudsters are evolving faster than regulators. We've teamed up with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network and media across Europe to launch Scam Europe.

In March, we revealed a vast network of unlicensed gambling sites operating around Europe. The investigation has since been targeted by dozens of bogus copyright complaints from unknown actors, in an attempt to erase the articles from Google. MEP Tiemo Wölken called the findings “truly worrying”.

Investigación La impunidad de las empresas de juego ilegal: 350 millones en multas y no pagan ni un euro. Por @manuelrico.bsky.social y @maxencepeigne.bsky.social. Un trabajo de @investigate-eu.bsky.social que @infolibre.bsky.social publica en exclusiva. www.infolibre.es/politica/imp...

Mastercard and Visa linked to illegal gambling sites accused of scamming UK customers

EU citizens lose out as Malta regulatory ‘sledgehammer’ protects gambling giants The world’s biggest betting firms are using a little-known Maltese law that nullifies court verdicts elsewhere in the EU to protect themselves from potentially having to pay out millions in legal claims:

Soft2bet: dozens of blacklisted sites connected to award-winning firm Investigate Europe can reveal a vast network of betting websites operating without necessary licences across Europe. Many attract millions of monthly visits, despite lawsuits and fines.

Shady bets: how Europe’s gambling industry spun out of control Our new investigation, produced with media in 11 countries, unravels the spin of Europe's multibillion-euro betting industry. It exposes the void of EU regulation, unlicensed sites, offshore secrecy and a growing public health crisis: