Guardian Exposé: MyStake CEO, Ronaldinho Deal Are Deepfakes

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-04-02

A bombshell investigation from The Guardian is shaking the online gambling world. It alleges that the CEO of the casino MyStake, Andres Markou, is a complete fabrication. Even more startling? Those viral photos of him shaking hands with soccer legend Ronaldinho are reportedly AI-generated deepfakes. This isn't just about one fake photo. It's about a vast, secretive network of illegal online casinos targeting vulnerable players. The report claims Markou is a decoy, a digital puppet designed to hide the real people pulling the strings. ### The Secretive Network Behind the Scenes The investigation points to a company called Santeda International. This firm is allegedly behind MyStake and at least seven other blacklisted casino brands like Velobet and Goldenbet. These sites are easily found by bettors in the UK, but regulators seem to have a hard time shutting them down. Here's the kicker: a source close to Ronaldinho confirmed the meeting with Markou never happened. Specialists from Reality Defender, a deepfake detection firm, said the images are "highly likely" to be AI-generated or manipulated. It makes you wonder, what else online isn't real?  ### How Big Is This Operation? This story is part of a much larger probe. Earlier this year, it was revealed that AI chatbots from giants like Meta and Google were allegedly promoting these illegal casinos to at-risk users. The trail keeps leading back to the same shadowy group. - **The Software Connection:** Journalists traced Santeda to a Swiss software firm called Upgaming AG, reportedly run by a group of Georgian nationals. - **Domain Details:** Site domains for casinos like Velobet were registered directly by Upgaming or its CEO, Tornike Tvauri. - **Massive Traffic:** Despite being illegal, these sites attracted an average of 2.3 million unique UK visitors per month recently. Upgaming has since claimed it cut all ties with Santeda, citing its "unregulated footprint." But the questions from lawmakers and journalists are just beginning.  ### Why This Matters for Players Everywhere It's a stark reminder of the wild west corners of the internet. These operations are sophisticated. They use fake executives, deepfake celebrity endorsements, and a web of international companies to evade accountability. They're designed to look legitimate while operating outside the law. The Guardian put it bluntly: these sites are easy for bettors to find but very hard for regulators to stop. The report suggests that if authorities could find the real people in charge, they could be held accountable. For now, the spotlight is on, and the call for a serious investigation is growing louder by the day. It's a cautionary tale about trusting what you see online, especially when real money is on the line.