An unauthorized online casino posing as the official gambling platform of Tesco, the largest supermarket in the UK, is still accessible to consumers despite being reported by the company.
The unlicensed website, TescoSlots.com, is using the supermarket chain’s branding and falsely claims to be the official Tesco casino in its advertisements.
However, Tesco has denied any affiliation with the site.
Advertisements for the casino were seen on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram but were removed by Meta following a notification from The Guardian.
Sham Brand Trend
Tesco is just one example of how large brands are targeted by illicit online casinos. This trend has been observed with major brick-and-mortar operators for years. Now, unlicensed online casinos are leveraging non-gaming brands to exploit consumer trust.
Similar schemes have copied the branding of banks like Barclays and Monzo as well as using sports stars like Lewis Hamilton, Tyson Fury, and others as “brand ambassadors” without any formal agreements.
Currently, the TescoSlots.com website ranks first on Google for the search term “Tesco slots,” potentially misleading unsuspecting customers looking for grocery delivery slots to a rogue gambling site impersonating a trusted brand.
The site lures new customers with a £1,500 bonus, 250 free spins, and claims to offer over 3,000 slots and live dealer games. It also falsely mentions Tesco’s Clubcard loyalty program and wrongly suggests customers can use a Tesco debit card for deposits.
It is important to note that Tesco Bank no longer provides current accounts, making the use of a Tesco debit card for gambling purposes impossible.
Tesco Alerts Authorities
Tesco has reported the unauthorized operation to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre and Report Fraud, a fraud-reporting service managed by City of London Police, after being alerted by The Guardian.
While City of London Police confirmed receiving the report, it has not yet been forwarded for investigation, as per a report in The Guardian.
Even though Tesco Slots claims to operate under a Curaçao license, it fails to display its operator’s name or a recognizable license number on its public pages.
It’s essential to understand that holding an overseas gambling license does not authorize a casino to offer its services to consumers in Great Britain without a valid UK Gambling Commission license, especially when pretending to be associated with a well-known British supermarket.