WILLEMSTAD – A UK-based consumer has issued a formal legal notice to an online gambling operator reportedly linked to Curaçao, accusing the platform of illegally accepting deposits without the appropriate licence required to operate in the United Kingdom.
In a letter before action, the consumer alleges that the gambling platform, operating under the name WEBMOSAIC/WBMSC Freshbet, accepted payments from UK players without holding a valid licence from the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC)—a criminal offence under Section 33 of the UK’s Gambling Act 2005.
According to the letter, users were led to believe the casino was fully regulated, when in fact, licensing details were not disclosed, and transactions were allegedly misrepresented through false Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). These codes are used by banks and card processors to classify the type of business and ensure compliance with financial regulations.
Allegations of Concealment and Regulatory Breach
The complaint also raises concerns that several transactions lacked transparent merchant identifiers on bank statements, and in some cases, were disguised as retail or miscellaneous purchases—a tactic often flagged by UK regulators and members of Parliament as an effort to evade scrutiny from financial institutions.
The customer, who claims to have made several deposits under false pretenses, is demanding:
A full refund of all deposited funds made during the unlicensed period,
A written confirmation that no deductions will be applied,
Full details of the acquiring casinos, payment processors, and MCC codes used in the transactions.
The letter has been shared with regulatory bodies in both the UK and Curaçao, including the UK Gambling Commission, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and Curaçao’s gaming oversight agencies. The consumer has warned that if the matter is not resolved, it will be escalated to the UK Financial Ombudsman Service, Action Fraud, and international payment networks including Visa and Mastercard.
Broader Concerns About Unregulated Offshore Gambling
The case highlights growing concerns about offshore gambling platforms operating in the UK market without proper authorization. Curaçao, known for its online gaming industry, has long come under criticism from international regulators for its lack of enforcement and oversight over license holders and sub-licensees.
This development follows increased scrutiny from UK lawmakers, who have called for tighter enforcement against foreign gambling websites targeting UK residents without permission.
So far, there has been no official response from the companies involved or from Curaçao’s gaming authorities. However, the matter is expected to draw further attention as complaints against offshore gambling operators continue to rise across Europe.
