UKGC Battles AI Deepfakes and Says Goodbye to Stake Casino

The UKGC warns against AI deepfakes and investigates Stake Casino’s sudden exit from the UK market.

The UK Gambling Commission has been known to take quick action when it comes to player safety. Recently, we’ve seen them looking into two issues that are currently having a big impact on the online gambling industry.

First is the rise of AI-generated ‘deepfakes’, especially in due diligence checks, and the second is the high-profile exit of Stake Casino from the UK. Let's unpack what the UKGC is doing about all this:

What are AI deepfakes?

If you’re not up to speed with the latest information in the world of technology, fear not; we’ve got all the details right here.

Deepfakes are essentially videos, images and documents created using Artificial Intelligence (AI). They may look very real and professional, but are entirely fake. This is becoming a big issue for companies worldwide, including gambling operators.

Recently, the UKGC warned online casinos that criminals use deepfakes to commit fraud. They’re mainly doing this by creating fake identities that enable them to open accounts and launder money through the platforms.

What does this mean for you? As a regular player, you could soon face stricter ID checks when signing up at UK online casinos or cashing out your winnings. Operators will also be expected to improve their fraud detection systems and train staff to spot deepfake content.

It may mean an extra couple of steps added to the KYC process, but the important thing is that you are protected against all forms of illegal activity.

For the UKGC, the emphasis remains on staying ahead of technology-driven risks and encouraging operators to tighten their anti-money laundering (AML) checks. And for gamblers, this is a good reminder to focus on playing at platforms with valid licenses that have proper verification checks in place.

Stake’s exit from the UK market

Next on the UKGC’s list was an investigation into the sudden departure of Stake Casino from the UK gambling scene. The popular crypto casino announced that it would stop operating in the UK after the Gambling Commission launched an investigation into one of its advertisements.

The ad showed an adult actress and the Stake logo, which violated the strict advertising rules within the UK. Stake.com is facing regulatory scrutiny, and in the same breath, the Commission is cracking down on marketing practices that target vulnerable players or seem to encourage irresponsible gambling.

Stake, which is also a shirt sponsor for the Premier League football club Everton, has officially stopped serving UK customers since 11 March 2025. The operations within the UK were run under a white-label agreement with TGP Europe Limited.

The Gambling Commission has now warned other football clubs with unlicensed sponsors about the risks of promoting those that are not in compliance with UK gambling regulations and laws. This could also mean that changes are ahead in terms of partnerships between sports teams and gambling operators.

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By Deni

Verified Casino Expert

Expertise: Casino Content Writing, Journalism & (PR), Gambling Regulations, Dutch & German Gambling Markets

Hi, I'm Deni! I'm a research obsessive with a passion for gambling regulations, market trends, and casino news. I dig deep into every topic I cover - so every article, review, or guide I write is built on solid research and real detail.

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Last updated: April 18, 2025

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UKGC battles AI deepfakes and says goodbye to Stake Casino

What are AI deepfakes?