Law enforcement in Ontario, Canada, has launched an investigation into the activities of the African betting operator TopBets, accused of exploiting schoolchildren for gambling purposes. According to officials, the illegal enterprise coerced teenagers into participating in gambling activities and threatened them with violence if they failed to settle their debts owed to the company's "agents."
TopBets allegedly enlisted minors to act as "agents," tasking them with accepting bets and collecting debts in person. One teenager has already been apprehended for issuing death threats in connection with these operations. The bookmaker purportedly utilized offshore software to facilitate illegal betting activities among local clientele.
Authorities suspect that TopBets may be incentivized financially for each registered player on its platform. While no online financial transactions occur, the betting data is recorded and managed through the offshore software. Collections and payments are conducted offline, with the bookmaker or their "agents," often minors, handling the exchange of funds at physical locations.
