Sentencing Given to Man Following Investigations of Illegal Betting Through WhatsApp
Written by admin on December 11, 2025
After failing to return GBP 269,000 to a customer’s account, a UK man who was running an illegal WhatsApp gambling business received a sentence.
He has received a 30-week suspended prison sentence as well as 200 hours of community service.
40-year-old Haydon Simcock has additionally been instructed to spend 20 hours in rehabilitation.
Simcock also needs to pay compensation in the way of GBP 230,000, as well as pay GBP 60,000 to the Gambling Commission (UKGC) in order to cover the cost of the process.
The amount has been reduced from the victims’ original GBP 240,000 to GBP 230,000.
because GBP 10 thousand had already been sent over.
The victim was continuously assured that his money faced no risk.
Simcock had admitted that between October 13, 2023, and September 14, 2024, he had been allowing people to bet without having an operating license.
Alongside that, he also admitted that in the period between May 26 2023, to March 1, 2024, he promoted unlawful gambling without a licence.
Involvement Revealed
In 2024, an undercover Racing Post reporter found that Simcock was affiliated with The Post Bookmakers, an unlicensed bookmaker.
Simcock had been the illegal bookie’s commercial manager.
His duties consisted of several things, one of which was attempting to persuade people to gamble using WhatsApp.
The setting up of accounts, fulfilling the duties of a customer service representative, and personally collecting bets were some of the things that Simcock was in charge of doing.
Alongside all of that, he would negotiate the amount that customers wanted to bet and assist with the transactions going through.
On Simcock’s devices, it was found that he had accepted money from dealers and had implied a threat to make someone “disappear”.
Following the report from the Racist Post, a collaborative investigation was launched by the Police and the Gambling Commission.
This information was later found out by the Birmingham Magistrates’ Court.
Statements by Law Enforcement
Many of the risks associated with gambling became more apparent after the whole situation, said the Commission Director of Enforcement, John Pierce.
The Director also described how many of those involved do not have the required licenses, disregard customer safety, and could likely be criminals.
Pierce points out that the investigation showed exactly how determined the regulator was to stop those who operate without a license.
He also pointed out how, with WhatsApp or not, those involved with illegal gambling will not escape consequences.
