Tesco Reports Fake Online Casino Using Its Brand to Police

^{Tesco has reported a fake online casino trading on its brand to the police, joining a growing list of retailers targeted by unlicensed operators. (Photo: Steve Daniels / Wikimedia Commons)}

Tesco has contacted the police after discovering that fraudsters had used its brand identity to promote an unlicensed online casino, the supermarket confirmed on 14 September 2026.

A website styling itself as the "official Tesco casino" claimed to bring "the UK's most trusted supermarket brand to online casino" and told visitors they could "deposit in seconds with the same Tesco debit card you use in store," according to Retail Week. The site remained accessible at the time of reporting despite holding no UK gambling licence, a legal requirement for any operator serving British customers.

Tesco Flags Site to Cyber Security and Fraud Bodies

Tesco flagged the issue to the National Cyber Security Centre and to the Report Fraud service run by City of London Police, according to GB News. A police spokesperson confirmed a complaint had been received but said it had not yet been passed to a force for investigation.

A fraudulent "Tesco casino" page also ran on Facebook until Tesco raised the issue with Meta, which removed the adverts following the company's inquiries. Meta has taken the position that responsibility for adverts complying with local regulations sits with advertisers rather than the platforms hosting them.

Tesco is the latest in a lengthening list of household-name UK brands whose image has been hijacked to lend false credibility to unlicensed gambling operators. Barclays has had its branding used to promote "Barclays Slots" featuring an AI-generated image of Sir Lewis Hamilton, while Monzo said criminals had exploited "our much-loved brand" in fake slot-machine adverts distributed on social media.

Regulators Struggling to Stem Fake Endorsement Ads

Both the Gambling Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority have been monitoring fake endorsement adverts for some time, though neither body has made significant headway in curbing the practice. The Gambling Commission has previously criticised Meta over its handling of unlicensed casinos appearing on its platforms, describing the hijacking of trusted brands to funnel consumers toward illegal products as "a particularly cynical version" of gambling-related criminality.

Bejay Patel, managing director for the UK and Ireland at Entain, whose Coral and Gala Bingo brands have also been impersonated, said any operator posing as a licensed brand was "exploiting British consumers and legitimate businesses alike and paying no taxes, while some of the world's largest technology platforms continue to profit from hosting their adverts."

Speaking with GB News, Patel called on Ofcom to take firmer action against the platforms enabling the fake adverts to spread. Several of the fraudulent sites identified so far claim Curaçao licences, a jurisdiction with no authority to permit gambling for UK players under the Gambling Act.

Footballers Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and Bruno Fernandes have also had their likenesses used without permission by rogue operators, and boxer Tyson Fury posted a video distancing himself from a casino using his name, saying he had turned down "millions" from gambling firms. Representatives for Haaland and Sir Lewis have been approached for comment on the latest cases.