Irish Regulator Puts Influencer Betting Deals on Notice

Ireland’s gambling authority has warned that social media creators may face criminal action for promoting operators without a local license. The warning followed Rainbet advertising placed inside prank videos filmed in Cork.

The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland said operating without an Irish betting license is unlawful. Promoting an unlicensed business can also breach the law.

Affiliate Deals Create Legal Exposure

A person who assists in the commission of an indictable offense may be prosecuted and punished as a principal offender, according to the regulator. The underlying offense of unlicensed bookmaking can carry a prison sentence of up to eight years. The GRAI can also apply to the High Court for an order requiring prohibited gambling advertising to stop.

This issue relates to Cork-based content creators Vladyslav Morhulets and Maksym Yakushev. Morhulets, whose online alias is Rendy Vlad, has more than a million followers on TikTok. His posts are mostly about pranks, conflicts, and interactions with people filmed from his own perspective.

Rainbet is shown in some of these posts. Yakushev also promotes the betting site by using an affiliate link.

Rainbet Sits Outside Irish Licensing

Rainbet is a crypto casino brand of RBGaming N.V., a company registered in Anjouan, Union of Comoros. It does not have an Irish betting license.

The Irish Examiner reported that RBGaming N.V. claims to hold a banking license issued by the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority. The Central Bank of the Comoros has described the AOFA as a fictitious structure involved in issuing licenses and providing financial services illegally online.

Rainbet offers affiliates revenue-share commissions of up to 60% on income generated by referred players. Among other things, Rainbet’s marketing strategy focuses on anonymous gambling and fast withdrawals.

As for customer terms, they offer narrow protections. Disputes over settled wagers must be filed within three days. The amount withdrawable from welcome promotions is capped at $50, while no more than $50 can be transferred from promotional or affiliate-code balances. Rainbet’s aggregate liability is limited to the lower of the relevant wager value or €500.

Prank Content Becomes a Betting Channel

In the furniture-store video, Morhulets promoted Rainbet while hiding beneath a display bed. The advertising was included within the prank itself rather than being shown as a standalone ad.

This format places the gambling promotion inside entertainment content. It also gives offshore operators access to large social audiences through creators who depend on commercial partnerships.

The videos have raised separate privacy concerns because both men use Meta Ray-Ban glasses to film members of the public. Ireland’s data protection watchdog has questioned whether the glasses’ LED recording indicator gives people adequate notice. It said Meta had not demonstrated that comprehensive field testing confirmed the light was effective.

What It Means for the Market

The regulatory question is now practical rather than theoretical. Ireland has warned creators that affiliate income can bring criminal exposure when the operator lacks a license. Any enforcement action would set an early boundary for influencers, referral partners and social platforms carrying offshore gambling promotions.