The Irish Gaming Regulatory Authority (GRAI) has initiated an investigation into 145 websites reportedly owned or operated by the Soft2Bet group, according to an investigation by Investigate Europe, as reported by The Irish Times.
The regulator is examining whether these sites are offering gambling services to Irish users without the necessary licenses and has promised to utilize all available tools, including enforcement measures.
Following the publication of the investigation, at least two websites associated with Soft2Bet have announced their closure. OnlySpins, which reportedly operated under a license from the Tobique First Nation in Canada instead of an Irish one and failed to verify user ages, has already ceased operations. Additionally, Betwarts, themed around Harry Potter, has also announced its impending closure.
Furthermore, the Ontario provincial regulator in Canada has also begun an investigation into Soft2Bet. The company denies any wrongdoing and claims no connection to the mentioned brands.