Haydon Simcock, 39, of Weston Coyney, Stoke-on-Trent, has been charged with providing gambling facilities and advertising unlicensed gambling in the UK. Simcock allegedly operated an illegal bookmaker between 18 October 2023 and 11 September 2024, advertising its services from 26 May 2023 to 1 March 2024.
The Gambling Commission, with support from Staffordshire Police, arrested Simcock in September 2024. He is set to appear at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 24 March 2025. An undercover investigation by the Racing Post in February 2024 linked Simcock to “The Post Bookmakers,” an illegal horseracing betting operation in the UK. Bets were reportedly placed via WhatsApp, with Simcock claiming to be the firm’s Commercial Manager. He stated the bookmaker had up to 10 employees and 1,300 customers, many of whom had turned to the illegal operator due to affordability checks and account restrictions from licensed operators.
The Gambling Commission has intensified its crackdown on unlicensed operators, issuing over 770 cease-and-desist and disruption notices in the past year, including 262 to illegal operators and 205 to advertisers. CEO Andrew Rhodes emphasized the dangers of illegal gambling, noting that such markets offer no player protection.
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