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Read Full BioHaydon Simcock, who ran an illegal betting scheme through WhatsApp, has avoided jail time and instead been given a suspended sentence in the UK.
Simcock received a 30-week suspended jail sentence and 200 hours of community service for providing gambling to consumers without an operating licence. He also failed to pay a customer £269,000 ($358,000) and has been ordered to pay £230,000 ($306,000) in compensation, plus an additional £60,000 ($80,000) to the UK Gambling Commission for costs incurred in the case.
A judge told Simcock that he had narrowly avoided going to prison when handing down the sentence, which has been suspended for two years. The case was brought against Simcock following an undercover investigation by The Racing Post, which revealed that he was operating an unlicensed betting operation named The Post Bookmakers through WhatsApp.
In recorded meetings, Simcock encouraged the undercover reporter to deposit as much as possible; however, the investigation revealed that he would hold back funds. In addition, investigators said he threatened one customer that he could make him “disappear.”
Bookie Accused of Accepting Drug Money
While running the illegal gambling ring, investigators said Simcock accepted bets from people he suspected of dealing drugs. When speaking to the undercover reporter, he admitted the operation did not do any checks on customers.
He stated, “We are the same as any other bookmaker, in a sense. You get your bet on, and you get paid. Nobody will know that you’re betting with us. We only take ID from you when we’re paying you out.”
However, as the investigation revealed, rather than pay out winning customers, Simcock would withhold cash and threaten users. As the UK increases taxes on gambling, opponents have stressed that higher rates on regulated companies will send more customers to unlicensed operators.
John Pierce, Director of Enforcement at the UK Gambling Commission, said, “This case illustrates all the risks that consumers face from illegal gambling – links to crime, having no regard for social responsibility, repeatedly exploiting consumers, and operating without any of the necessary operational safeguards in place.”
Simcock Denied Running Illegal Book
The Post Bookmakers used the Racing Post’s logo in advertisements, implying it was affiliated with the media outlet. These ads were posted through WhatsApp groups in an attempt to acquire new customers. WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, generates $16 billion per year from advertising illegal services.
Simcock denied he was the leader of the operation. When contacted by the Racing Post, he claimed not to “work directly for the business” and asked that inquiries be instead directed towards a man called David, who he said was the owner.
He stated, “You need to speak to David. It’s his business. I’m only a friend of David and do little bits for him.”
It is unclear who David is, and whether he is indeed the real owner of the illegal business. The UK Gambling Commission launched an investigation in conjunction with the police following the Racing Post’s tip.
In a statement following Simcock’s sentencing, the Commission said the 40-year-old carried out key roles, including:
- inviting people to gamble via WhatsApp
- setting up accounts, acting as a customer services agent, and personally collecting cash from customers in order for them to place bets
- providing direct administrative back-up to the gambling transaction, by agreeing odds, agreeing offers such as matched deposits and rewards for referrals and taking payments from customers.
They did not explicitly say that he was the owner of the business. No further details have emerged over who ‘David’ is.
Simcock Was Part of a Racing Syndicate
Simcock has owned five horses in Britain since 2018, one registered in his own name and four under the banner of Dark Horse Partnership, a syndicate he fronted that had five winners.
The syndicate was dissolved in 2022. The UK government site listing the company shows Simcock as the only person with significant control. He attempted to leverage his connections in the racing industry to appear as a legitimate bookmaker. He told the Racing Post reporter, “I’m in the racing industry. I’ve run a syndicate for the past five years and had horses in Newmarket.”
Another racehorse owner, Tony Bloom, has been accused this week of running a betting syndicate that used offshore bookmakers to place wagers through frontmen. A former associate has filed a lawsuit claiming he is owed money from the syndicate that generated millions of dollars in winnings each year.
Bloom is also the owner of Premier League club Brighton, and part of the revelations this week accuse him of placing bets on soccer matches involving the club, which is prohibited. Bloom denies the allegations. Crypto betting platform Rollbit has reportedly withheld $19.6 million of winnings from the alleged syndicate.
Commission Warns of Using Unregulated Betting Operators
Whether through offshore platforms or social media, the UK Gambling Commission warned users of gambling with unlicensed operators. Pierce stated, “This investigation shows our determination to take action against illegal operators and protect consumers from harm.
“Using mobile apps like WhatsApp does not make illegal gambling invisible or beyond our reach – we can evidence such activity is taking place, and we will use every power available to us to play our part in removing this unlawful activity from the British marketplace and to ensure those responsible are held to account for their actions.”
