Stake Accuses CEGA of Fraud and Brand Defamation Attempt
What Happened?
The cryptocurrency casino Stake has made accusations against the British organization CEGA (Coalition to End Gambling Ads).
According to Stake representatives, CEGA illegally created an account on their platform using a VPN and fake personal details to allegedly prove that the operator continues to operate in the UK after officially exiting the market.
How Did CEGA Act?
CEGA not only registered on Stake but also:
- Used a VPN to bypass geographic restrictions.
- Provided deliberately false personal information, including name and address.
- Violated the platform’s terms of use.
- Created an account with fake information, committing identity fraud.
- Deposited funds by purchasing Bitcoin and started gambling.
Stake’s Response
Stake states that their security system detected and blocked this account within an hour, proving the effectiveness of their protection mechanisms. However, according to CEGA, they managed to deposit funds and start placing bets within that time.
“They created a false narrative to discredit Stake using illegal methods. This had nothing to do with fairness or regulation – it was a planned provocation.”
Context: Pressure on Stake in the UK
CEGA has sent letters to football clubs Everton and Leicester, sponsored by Stake and BC.Game, urging the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to take action. The letters claim that despite bans, UK users can still access these sites via VPN.
| Club | Sponsor |
|---|---|
| Everton | Stake |
| Leicester | BC.Game |
Furthermore, UKGC recently revoked Stake’s license to operate in the UK, requiring football clubs to enforce strict geo-blocking. However, the commission acknowledged that some measures can be bypassed using a VPN, as demonstrated by CEGA.
Conclusion
Stake continues to defend its reputation, stating that blocking CEGA’s account within an hour confirms the effectiveness of their security. Meanwhile, the organization points to CEGA’s illegal actions and accuses it of deliberate provocation.
The situation remains tense, and it is possible that UKGC will conduct an additional review to determine the effectiveness of access restriction mechanisms for prohibited platforms.