A Stoke man who ran an illegal WhatsApp gambling business has received a 30 week suspended jail sentence and a 200 hour community service order, following a joint investigation by the Gambling Commission and Staffordshire Police.
Haydon Simcock was also ordered to carry out 20 hours rehabilitation activity in addition to paying £230,000 compensation to a victim whose account he failed to settle, as well as £60,000 Gambling Commission costs.
“This case illustrates all the risks that consumers face from illegal gambling – links to crime, having no regard for social responsibility, repeatedly exploiting consumers and operating without any of the necessary operational safeguards in place,” said the Commission’s director of enforcement John Pierce. “This investigation shows our determination to take action against illegal operators and protect consumers from harm.”
“Using mobile apps like WhatsApp does not make illegal gambling invisible or beyond our reach – we can evidence such activity is taking place and we will use every power available to us to play our part in removing this unlawful activity from the British marketplace and to ensure those responsible are held to account for their actions.”
Records recovered from Simcock’s electronic devices revealed he also took bets from people he suspected of dealing drugs, and suggested he could make a disgruntled customer “disappear.”
Originally published on Coinslot on December 22, 2025. Republished with permission.