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A joint investigation by The Guardian and Investigate Europe found that five major AI chatbots: Microsoft Copilot, Grok, Meta AI, ChatGPT and Gemini, could be prompted to recommend offshore gambling sites to users in the UK. The reporting said all five were able to suggest operators outside the licensed market and respond to prompts about where to gamble beyond standard consumer-protection rules.

According to the investigation, the problem went further than simply naming websites. The chatbots were also asked how to access casinos not covered by GamStop, the UK’s national self-exclusion system, and how to get around “source of wealth” checks designed to detect financial crime and reduce gambling harm.

The responses showed a broader pattern, not a one-off slip

The Guardian reported that every chatbot tested could be led into recommending illegal casinos, often ranking them by bonuses, payout speed or crypto support. Meta AI was described as especially permissive, while Grok reportedly suggested cryptocurrency as a way to avoid links to bank accounts or personal details that could trigger verification.

Gemini was said to have offered step-by-step guidance on reaching unlicensed casinos in one test, while ChatGPT generated a comparison of non-GamStop sites covering bonuses, payment methods and withdrawal speeds. Copilot, meanwhile, reportedly described several offshore operators as “reputable” or “trusted”.

The issue is now crossing from AI safety into gambling regulation

What makes the story more serious than a typical chatbot error is the compliance angle. These systems were not just surfacing risky information they were described as helping users move around barriers built to protect vulnerable gamblers, including self-exclusion tools and anti-money-laundering checks.

The findings drew criticism from the UK government, the Gambling Commission and gambling-harm experts. The Guardian said only Copilot and ChatGPT opened any answers with a gambling-risk warning, while Google, Microsoft and OpenAI said their systems have safeguards and continue to be refined. Even so, the investigation suggests mainstream AI assistants can still function like informal referral engines for offshore gambling sites when those protections fail.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/mar/08/ai-chatbots-point-vulnerable-to-online-casinos-gambling-addiction-uk