Recent reports around the partnership of racing live feed supplier SIS with Santeda, an operator not licensed in the UK, has prompted Entain to voice its ‘serious concerns’ about the deal.
According to documents obtained through the data leak from the Curaçao gambling authority, SIS entered into a commercial agreement with unlicensed bookmaker Santeda in 2022, which is possible to have lasted as far as this year.
Shareholders in SIS are some of the biggest UK gambling brands, including Entain (23.4%), evoke (19.5%), Betfred and The Tote (13.5% collectively).
Because of the ownership structure, in addition to the gambling operators also being SIS clients, the racing feed provider maintains independence in its governance affairs, including media rights deals.
SBC News understands that neither Betfred or Entain knew of the commercial undertaking between SIS and Santeda.
Entain explained that it was “surprised and disappointed” about the reports, and that it has taken the issue with the SIS Board.
The operator added: “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’s position on illegal gambling is clear and unchanged: we support robust enforcement against unlicensed operators.”
Entain’s position largely reflects its historic stance on the black market, which has seen the operator appealing directly to UK regulators and football governing bodies about the prominence of unlicensed platforms in its home market.
Meanwhile, a representative from SIS said: “SIS has contracts with operators around the world operating under official regulatory and licensing environments.
“All customers of SIS, whether international or domestic, agree that they will only offer SIS products where it is legal to do so and where they have the necessary regulatory licences. Customers commit that they will comply with all such laws and licences at all times.
“Where SIS becomes aware that these terms are not being adhered to it takes corrective action to enforce the position, up to and including suspension or termination of contracts. Whilst we do not comment on individual commercially confidential arrangements, SIS terms and conditions can be found in our website at www.sis.tv/legal.”
SBC News has also reached out to evoke and The Tote for a comment.
