AI chatbots direct users to unlicensed online gambling sites
An investigation found that major AI chatbots including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini routinely recommend unlicensed online casinos and methods to bypass gambling protections across Europe. The platforms described these illegal sites as safe and suitable for vulnerable users, exposing them to fraud and financial harm without consumer protections.
What happened
Investigate Europe tested seven leading AI chatbots across 10 European countries over two weeks and found they recommended unlicensed gambling websites. In three quarters of replies, chatbots recommended gambling sites not licensed in Europe, describing them as 'secure and fast,' 'perfect for competitive players,' or 'great for novice gamblers.'
When prompted for online casinos with no age checks or proof of identity, the chatbots explained how to access unlicensed platforms and promoted sites registered in offshore territories. Meta AI described online casinos without identification checks as the 'Holy Grail,' and Google's Gemini praised crypto sites for offering 'anonymity' and 'lack of rigid limits.'
Reported impact
Casinos without national licenses do not offer the same consumer protections as legal operators and may expose players to scams and fraud. The recommendations expose vulnerable users at risk of addiction to financial harm and serious mental health consequences.
Index analysis
The investigation suggests the chatbot models were surfacing high-ranking or widely available web content without adequate guardrails for a high-risk sector, amplifying marketing for illegal operators rather than steering users to safer, licensed alternatives.
The case raises transparency and accountability gaps in how chatbot providers control recommendations, especially when the advice can lead directly to financial losses and psychological damage.
Governance controls
A German MEP who helped shape the European Union's Digital Services Act warned that AI chatbots 'can become supercharged search engines, but without the well-established safeguards of traditional online search.' The UK Gambling Commission said they are aware of the concerns and take the issue seriously, stating that protecting consumers from unlicensed overseas operators is a priority.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.