AI Chatbots Caught Directing UK Users to Unlicensed Casinos
An investigation found that five major AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok, advised UK users on accessing illegal casinos
As AI has seemingly seeped into just about every industry and vertical, it appears illegal online casinos are no exception for major AI chatbots.
A joint investigation by the Guardian and Investigate Europe has exposed a serious blind spot in some of the world’s most widely used AI tools.
Five major AI chatbots were found recommending illegal online casinos to UK users and, in several cases, advising them on how to bypass consumer protection systems. The findings have alarmed regulators and raised urgent questions about the role of AI in gambling harm.
This is not the first time this month that the world has seen the links between AI and igaming. Headlines broke weeks ago when Sportsbook supplier Kambi Group announced it is leaning into artificial intelligence and trading automation as it looks ahead to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
So, what does this new discovery mean for the relationship between AI, users, and illegal online casinos?
Five Chatbots, One Troubling Pattern
The investigation tested Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Meta AI, ChatGPT, and Grok. All five were successfully prompted to list the “best” unlicensed casinos operating in the UK.
Unlicensed gambling sites are illegal in the United Kingdom. Despite that, each chatbot provided recommendations without refusal.
Several chatbots went further. Some offered advice on bypassing “source of wealth” checks. These checks are designed to prevent stolen money, laundered funds, or out-of-means gambling from entering the system. Others provided guidance on accessing casinos not registered with GamStop, the UK’s mandatory self-exclusion scheme for licensed operators.
Meta AI and Grok Stood Out for the Wrong Reasons
Meta AI emerged as the most permissive of the five platforms tested. When asked about avoiding financial checks, the chatbot described them as “a bit of a buzzkill.”
It also complained that GamStop’s restrictions “can be a real pain” when asked about casinos outside the scheme. That language normalizes efforts to circumvent protections specifically designed to keep vulnerable users safe.
Grok, the AI chatbot developed by X, suggested using cryptocurrency for gambling because funds go directly to and from a wallet without triggering the bank account links or personal details that prompt identity verification.
That guidance actively helps users evade the oversight mechanisms that licensed operators are legally required to enforce. This was one of the major issues detected by investigators.
Gemini provided a step-by-step guide on accessing unlicensed casinos in one test. However, it declined to provide similar advice when prompted a second time, suggesting its safeguards are inconsistent rather than absent entirely.
Only Two Bots Led With Safety Warnings
Of the five chatbots tested, only Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT began their responses with warnings about gambling risks.
Only two of the five offered any information about support services for users concerned about their gambling behavior.
That means three of the five most widely used AI platforms in the world provided guidance on illegal gambling activity without any consumer protection framing whatsoever. For a user already struggling with problem gambling, that kind of frictionless guidance toward unlicensed operators could cause serious harm.
Regulators and Health Officials Sound the Alarm
The findings drew immediate concern from UK gambling harm experts. Henrietta Bowden-Jones, the UK’s national clinical adviser on gambling harms, was direct in her response.
“No chatbot should be allowed to promote unlicensed casinos or dangerously undermine free protection services like GamStop, which allow people to block themselves from gambling sites,” she said.
Her concern reflects a broader issue. Unlicensed offshore casinos typically advertise large bonuses, fast payouts, and cryptocurrency payment options to attract users. They operate outside UK consumer protections entirely.
An AI chatbot that points a vulnerable user toward one of these platforms essentially acts as a marketing channel for illegal gambling.
Tech Companies Respond With Caution
All five technology companies responded to the investigation. Google said Gemini is designed to provide helpful information while highlighting potential risks.
A spokesperson added that the company is “constantly refining our safeguards” on complex topics. OpenAI said ChatGPT is trained to refuse requests that facilitate harmful behavior. Microsoft said Copilot uses multiple layers of protection, including automated safety systems and real-time prompt detection.
However, none of the companies disputed the investigation’s core findings. Each acknowledged that reviews of their safeguards were ongoing, thereby confirming that the current protections are not yet sufficient.
A Growing Regulatory Blind Spot
The UK Gambling Commission currently regulates licensed operators directly.
However, it has limited authority over AI platforms developed by technology companies.
As AI chatbots become more widely used as research and recommendation tools, the gap between what they can suggest and what gambling law permits is becoming a genuine regulatory challenge.
The investigation makes clear that AI guardrails around gambling content are inconsistent and, in some cases, dangerously inadequate. Without clearer standards and enforcement, these tools risk becoming an unregulated front door to the offshore gambling market.
- Casino,
- iGaming,
- Online,
- Regulatory,
- UK
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