Investigation: AI Chatbots Recommend Offshore Casinos to Self-Excluded Players

AI-powered chatbots are recommending offshore online casinos to users and offering advice on how to bypass safeguards designed to address problem gambling, according to an investigation by The Guardian and the journalism project Investigate Europe.

The reporters tested five chatbot services: Microsoft’s Copilot, Grok, Meta AI, OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

Each system was asked six questions about unlicensed casinos, including requests to name the best sites operating without a licence, explain ways to bypass source-of-funds checks and advise how to access gambling platforms not connected to the UK’s GamStop self-exclusion scheme.

All of the tested chatbots, when prompted, produced lists of offshore operators. Some services also compared bonus offers, withdrawal speeds and payment options.

In one response, Meta AI described source-of-funds checks as “annoying” and suggested ways to circumvent them. Grok recommended using cryptocurrency for betting, noting that such transactions may avoid additional verification.

Gemini in one response provided step-by-step instructions on how to access unlicensed gambling websites, although when the test was repeated it declined to offer similar guidance.

Of the five services, only Copilot and ChatGPT included warnings about potential risks in their replies. However, ChatGPT also provided a list of gambling sites that are not connected to GamStop.

The UK Gambling Commission said it views the issue as serious and is participating in a government working group examining the responsibility of technology companies for the distribution of harmful content.

Gambling Park notes that in October 2025 OpenAI updated its service policies, prohibiting ChatGPT from advising users about gambling.