Entain Conflict: Dispute Over SIS Black-Market Deal With MyStake Operator

In the world of gambling, partnerships that seem like routine business on the surface can quickly turn into a PR nightmare. Currently, a cooperation between the long-standing supplier SIS (Sports Information Services) and the Curaçao-based operator Santeda is causing significant tension. The situation is particularly explosive because SIS is largely owned by well-known bookmakers operating in regulated markets. These owners, including Entain, officially advocate for player protection and fight against the black market.

Leaked documents from the Curaçao regulatory system revealed that SIS signed a legally binding contract with Santeda as early as 2022. Santeda is the company behind brands like MyStake, Rolletto, and GoldenBet. These platforms have long been targeted by regulatory authorities because they offer their services without the necessary licenses in markets like the UK. For SIS, this deal represents a direct connection to actors who undermine the regulated system that SIS owners like Entain are supposedly committed to defending.

Numbers and facts

The ownership structure of SIS reads like a who's who of the British betting industry. Entain holds a 23.4% stake, while William Hill owner evoke holds 19.5%. Another 13.5% is held collectively by Betfred and its owner Fred Done. The remaining shares are controlled by financial investors Caledonia and Catalyst Media Group. This constellation makes the Santeda deal so sensitive. While the parent companies invest millions in compliance, their subsidiary SIS profits from revenues generated in the unregulated market.

Details from the contract show that SIS was entitled to an 18% share of the Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) for racing products and a 13% share for esports products on the Santeda network. Although Santeda listed the UK as a prohibited market in its documents, SIS content was accessible via UK IP addresses on the portals as recently as spring 2026. A particular point of contention for those involved is that SIS paid its shareholders a special dividend of £30 million in 2023, at a time when the controversial contract was already in effect.

Background

Santeda International is no small player. According to data from Similarweb, brands associated with Santeda attracted an average of 2.3 million monthly unique visitors from the UK alone between November 2025 and January 2026. The Guardian also reported on a mysterious figure named Andres Markou, who appeared as the CEO of MyStake but, according to research, may be an AI-generated fake. Such practices reinforce the image of an opaque network that consciously evades state supervision.

The reaction from Entain was accordingly sharp. A spokesperson told journalists that the company takes the situation very seriously and has raised concerns with SIS.

"Entain, as a minority shareholder and to ensure compliance with competition law, is not a party to the commercial or customer arrangements SIS decides to strike. Now that this relationship has come to light, we take it very seriously and have raised our concerns to SIS." - Entain Spokesperson

SIS itself defends its position by pointing out that all customers are contractually obligated to offer products only where it is legal to do so and where they have the necessary licenses. If violations become known, the company says it takes corrective action, up to and including termination of contracts.

Why it matters for German players

For German players, this case is an important warning signal. In Germany, the State Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV 2021) strictly regulates who is allowed to offer bets and slots. Only providers on the official whitelist of the Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) are considered safe and legal. These providers must follow strict rules, such as the monthly deposit limit of 1,000 euros via the LUGAS system and the stake limit of one euro per spin for virtual slot machines.

Anyone playing at providers like MyStake or other Santeda brands enters a legal gray area without state protection. These platforms often use licenses from Curaçao, which are not recognized in Germany. In the event of withdrawal problems, players have no recourse in German courts. Furthermore, these sites often lack exclusion systems like OASIS, which drastically increases the risk of gambling addiction. The current scandal shows that even reputable data suppliers like SIS sometimes cooperate behind the scenes with these illegal actors, highlighting the importance of playing exclusively at GGL-licensed casinos.

What it means for GGL-licensed casinos

Licensed casinos in Germany must strictly monitor their entire supply chain. If a service provider like SIS cooperates with the black market, this could theoretically raise questions about the reliability of GGL casinos' partners. The authorities in Germany look very closely at these matters. Legally operating companies must ensure that they do not indirectly benefit from black-market money or share technology with providers that actively circumvent German laws. Transparency is the top priority here to maintain the trust of players and regulators.