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{"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"853ba919-e39a-4935-b024-7cfd5ac9ca37","kind":"publish","page_slug":"spartans-bet","published_at":"2026-05-19T16:03:21.216Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"Spartans Bet","sections":[{"content":"Spartans Bet operates primarily at spartans.com and presents itself as a crypto-native casino and sportsbook accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, DAI, ADA, and AVAX. The platform is operated by Nexus International Entertainment Ltd, incorporated in Belize with company registration number 000043488 and a registered address at 9 Barrack Road, Belize City, Belize. Nexus International is publicly attributed to founder Gurhan Kiziloz, who also runs Lanistar (a UK-based fintech) and Megaposta (a Brazil-focused iGaming brand). The company reportedly generated $264 million in Gross Gaming Revenue in 2024 and claimed $1.2 billion in platform inflows for 2025, though these figures have not been independently audited or verified by a recognized third party. Spartans launched in 2025 and describes itself as the 10th-largest crypto casino globally.","heading":"Overview and Corporate Structure","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":3,"name":"Spartans About Us Page","type":"official","url":"https://spartans.com/help-center/about-us"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Nexus International Hit $400M Without Funding - European Gaming Industry News","type":"news_article","url":"https://europeangaming.eu/portal/latest-news/2025/06/19/185145/nexus-international-hit-400m-without-funding-now-ceo-gurhan-kiziloz-aims-for-1-45b/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Nexus International Entertainment Ltd - Info-clipper corporate record","type":"other","url":"https://www.info-clipper.com/en/company/belize/nexus-international-entertainment-ltd.bzdb5vnl7.html"}]},{"content":"In October 2025, blockchain investigator ZachXBT alleged that Gurhan Kiziloz — identified as the alleged co-founder of Spartans — is the hidden controller behind BlockDAG Network, a cryptocurrency project that ZachXBT claims raised over $300 million from retail investors. According to ZachXBT's posts on X (formerly Twitter), BlockDAG used social media advertising promising unrealistic returns (framing such as '95x potential' and '85x on market price'), ran a presale for over two years, and never delivered tokens or withdrawals to participants. ZachXBT alleged that presale funds were liquidated 'through Middle Eastern over-the-counter (OTC) trading channels' and that Kiziloz used proceeds for 'large-scale purchases of luxury cars, real estate, and luxury goods.' ZachXBT further alleged that BlockDAG's publicly displayed team were 'nominal leaders,' with Kiziloz operating as the actual controller while using an intermediary (named Antony Turner) as the public face. ZachXBT reported receiving complaints from at least 10-15 investors who claimed financial losses. Kiziloz initially denied involvement with BlockDAG but was later alleged to have acknowledged it after leaked documents, wallet details, and internal screenshots were surfaced. Neither Kiziloz nor BlockDAG has issued a formal public legal rebuttal as of the investigation date. All allegations originate from ZachXBT and should be treated as alleged pending legal resolution.","heading":"ZachXBT Allegations: Founder Linked to BlockDAG Fraud","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"ZachXBT on X: alleged co-founder of Spartans is Gurhan Kiziloz who is behind BlockDAG","type":"social_media","url":"https://x.com/zachxbt/status/2042240033479184429"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ZachXBT on X: BlockDAG grifter Gurhan Kiziloz pays people to be the face while transferring millions via OTC","type":"social_media","url":"https://x.com/zachxbt/status/1983470700003516903"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ZachXBT Accuses Spartans Co-Founder of Involvement in BlockDAG - Odaily","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.odaily.news/en/newsflash/476044"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ZachXBT claims Spartans is linked to BlockDAG fundraising controversy - PANews","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.panewslab.com/en/articles/019d7291-1ffb-72e9-9894-a03a6ba08c99"},{"credibility":2,"name":"BlockDAG Under Fire as Investigator Alleges $300M Scam - CryptoPotato","type":"news_article","url":"https://cryptopotato.com/blockdag-under-fire-as-investigator-alleges-300m-scam/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"BlockDAG Network's $300M Fraud Exposed by ZachXBT - Phemex News","type":"news_article","url":"https://phemex.com/news/article/investigation-reveals-blockdag-networks-300m-fraud-scheme-72062"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Investigator Exposes Spartans Co-Founder's $300M BlockDAG Scheme - Blockchain.news","type":"news_article","url":"https://blockchain.news/flashnews/crypto-investigator-exposes-spartans-co-founder-s-300m-blockdag-scheme"}]},{"content":"Gurhan Kiziloz is a UK-based Turkish entrepreneur who founded Lanistar in 2019, positioning it as a fintech startup targeting millennials with a 'polymorphic' payment card. In November 2020, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a warning against Lanistar, stating the firm was 'providing financial services or products in the UK without our authorisation' and was 'targeting people.' Lanistar responded that it had not yet launched financial services and was in the process of obtaining regulatory permission. The FCA subsequently retracted the warning after Lanistar added disclaimers and modified its marketing, and the company later received approval to operate as an agent under an authorized payments provider. Additional reported concerns about Kiziloz include multiple winding-up petitions over alleged unpaid debts, a 2025 High Court ruling that dismissed a liquidation petition, allegations by seven former employees of bullying, sexism, and unpaid wages, and alleged use of fraudulent DMCA notices to suppress critical media coverage. Kiziloz also reportedly promoted several cryptocurrency tokens (Big Eyes, Dogetti, HUH Token) where investors suffered losses of up to 99 percent. Nexus International, his holding company, lists Spartans.com as its flagship gaming brand alongside Lanistar and Megaposta.","heading":"Founder Background: Gurhan Kiziloz and Lanistar FCA Warning","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"FCA issues warning on Lanistar - Sifted","type":"news_article","url":"https://sifted.eu/articles/fca-lanistar-warning"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Lanistar secures FCA approval after regulatory warning - Fintech Futures","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.fintechmagazine.com/digital-payments/lanistar-gets-fca-approval-after-2020-regulatory-wrist-slap"},{"credibility":3,"name":"Gurhan Kiziloz profile - CyberCriminal.com","type":"community_report","url":"https://www.cybercriminal.com/threats/gurhan-kiziloz"},{"credibility":3,"name":"Gurhan Kiziloz & Lanistar: Sanctions, Pivots, and Perceptions - Scam Forum","type":"community_report","url":"https://www.scamforum.com/threads/gurhan-kiziloz-lanistar-sanctions-pivots-and-perceptions.778/"}]},{"content":"Spartans prominently advertises 'provably fair' gameplay, claiming that its random number generator (RNG) is tied to blockchain-verifiable seed values and that all game outcomes can be independently verified. The platform also displays a 'Gamecheck SEAL' certification, which casino.guru describes as indicating that 'a selection of games from multiple game providers has been checked and no fake games have been found' with 'continuous monitoring for authenticity.' However, no publicly accessible, independently published cryptographic audit report from a recognized testing laboratory (such as eCOGRA, BMM Testlabs, or GLI) has been located. The promotional framing of 'provably fair' appears across numerous paid media placements on sites such as ainvest.com, bitcoinethereumnews.com, and timestabloid.com, which are characteristic of sponsored content rather than independent verification. ZachXBT's flagging of the platform specifically identified 'unverified-claims' as a concern alongside 'provably-fair-claims,' consistent with a pattern where marketing language outpaces documented third-party confirmation. In the broader crypto gambling context, 'provably fair' without accessible audit trails and verifiable seed publication is a marketing claim, not a technical standard.","heading":"Provably Fair Claims: Unverified and Unaudited","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Spartans Casino Review - casino.guru (Safety Index 6.4, Gamecheck seal noted)","type":"research","url":"https://casino.guru/spartans-casino-review"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Provably Fair - The Certification Standard for Provably Fair Gambling","type":"other","url":"https://www.provablyfair.org/"},{"credibility":3,"name":"Spartans Named 2025 Top Provably Fair Crypto Gambling Platform - ainvest (promotional)","type":"other","url":"https://www.ainvest.com/news/spartans-named-2025-top-provably-fair-crypto-gambling-platform-2508/"}]},{"content":"Spartans operates under License No. ALSI-202409038-FI2 issued by the Government of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan (Comoros Union). The Anjouan gaming license is widely considered a low-credibility offshore license. The 2024 FATF-GAFI report confirms that gambling is explicitly prohibited under the Comorian Penal Code, meaning any gaming license issued within the Union of the Comoros lacks a legitimate legal foundation under national law. The Central Bank of the Comoros has publicly stated that no offshore financial licenses issued by island entities such as the Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) are valid or recognized. The Belize government's Gaming Control Board has separately issued a notice that only one company (Mum Casino Ltd) holds a legitimate online gaming license from Belize, and all other entities claiming a Belize gaming license 'must immediately cease and desist.' While Spartans' corporate entity is registered in Belize, its gambling license is through Anjouan, not Belize's Gaming Control Board. In practice, the Anjouan licensing body is reported to focus on fee collection rather than player protection enforcement, with dispute resolution effectively absent.","heading":"Licensing and Regulatory Status","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Examining the Anjouan Gaming License: Unveiling the Scam Behind the Illusion - TradePass","type":"research","url":"https://www.tradepass.tax/post/examining-the-anjouan-online-gaming-license-unveiling-the-scam-behind-the-illusion"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Anjouan Gaming Licence Explained - BonusRiver","type":"research","url":"https://bonusriver.com/licenses/anjouan-gaming"},{"credibility":1,"name":"GAMING CONTROL BOARD NOTICE: ILLEGAL ONLINE GAMING - Government of Belize Press Office","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.pressoffice.gov.bz/gaming-control-board-notice-illegal-online-gaming/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Belize Gambling License - MyGamingLicense","type":"other","url":"https://www.mygaminglicense.com/license/belize"}]},{"content":"Spartans casino carries a below-average Safety Index of 6.4 out of 10 from casino.guru, an independent casino review platform. Casino.guru identified problematic Terms and Conditions clauses, including provisions allowing winnings confiscation when 'low-risk play' is detected and forfeiture of bonuses upon detection of 'certain betting techniques.' User complaints documented across Trustpilot and review platforms include: refusal to process withdrawals when players win, account closures without explanation or payout (one player reportedly lost access after accumulating 3,900 euros in profits), withdrawal delays beyond the stated 72-hour window with no customer response, and repeated requests for re-verification prior to withdrawal denial. Customer support is reported as available in English only despite the platform targeting multiple language markets. Positive reviews exist, citing fast USDT withdrawals for some users, suggesting inconsistent enforcement of policies. The volume of promotional content appearing across low-credibility outlets (ainvest.com, bitcoinethereumnews.com, timestabloid.com) is consistent with a paid media amplification strategy rather than organic user endorsement.","heading":"User Complaints and Platform Safety Rating","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Spartans Casino Review - casino.guru (Safety Index 6.4/10)","type":"research","url":"https://casino.guru/spartans-casino-review"},{"credibility":3,"name":"Spartans Reviews - Trustpilot","type":"community_report","url":"https://www.trustpilot.com/review/spartans.com"},{"credibility":3,"name":"SPARTANS Casino reviews and complaints - Tribuna","type":"community_report","url":"https://tribuna.com/en/casino/casino-reviews/spartans-casino/reviews/"}]},{"content":"Spartans explicitly restricts players from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, Russia, the Netherlands, Iran, and several other jurisdictions. The exclusion of major regulated markets (US, UK, Germany, Australia) is consistent with the operator's lack of authorization from those jurisdictions' regulatory bodies. Players in excluded markets are reportedly denied service, though some user complaints suggest deposits were accepted before winnings were refused — a pattern noted by the Anjouan license analysis community as a known risk with unregulated offshore operators.","heading":"Geographic Restrictions and Excluded Markets","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Spartans Casino Review - casino.guru","type":"research","url":"https://casino.guru/spartans-casino-review"},{"credibility":3,"name":"Spartans: Bitcoin & Crypto Games Online - Official Site","type":"official","url":"https://spartans.com/"}]}],"sources_used":[],"summary":"Spartans Bet (spartans.com) is a crypto betting and casino platform launched in 2025, operated by Nexus International Entertainment Ltd, a company registered in Belize and licensed under the disputed Anjouan (Comoros) gaming authority. On-chain investigator ZachXBT alleged in 2025 that the platform's suspected co-founder, Gurhan Kiziloz, is also the hidden operator behind BlockDAG Network, a project ZachXBT claims raised over $300 million from retail investors through deceptive social media advertising and misappropriated presale funds via Middle Eastern OTC channels. Spartans makes prominent 'provably fair' claims that lack independently verifiable third-party audit documentation, and the platform carries a below-average safety index of 6.4/10 from casino.guru, with user complaints citing refused withdrawals and unfair bonus terms.","timeline":[{"date":"2020-11-01","event":"UK Financial Conduct Authority issues warning against Lanistar, a fintech founded by Gurhan Kiziloz (alleged Spartans co-founder), for operating without authorization and targeting consumers without FCA approval.","source":"Sifted / FCA","source_url":"https://sifted.eu/articles/fca-lanistar-warning"},{"date":"2020-11-20","event":"FCA retracts warning against Lanistar after the company adds disclaimers and modifies marketing materials. Lanistar later receives approval to operate as an agent under an authorized payments provider.","source":"Fintech Futures","source_url":"https://www.fintechmagazine.com/digital-payments/lanistar-gets-fca-approval-after-2020-regulatory-wrist-slap"},{"date":"2025-01-01","event":"Spartans.com casino launches, operated by Nexus International Entertainment Ltd (Belize reg. 000043488), licensed under Anjouan Gaming Authority license ALSI-202409038-FI2.","source":"casino.guru review","source_url":"https://casino.guru/spartans-casino-review"},{"date":"2025-04-01","event":"ZachXBT publishes first investigation exposing BlockDAG Network's alleged nominal leadership and identifying Gurhan Kiziloz as the actual hidden controller, alleging presale fund diversion via Middle Eastern OTC channels.","source":"ZachXBT on X / Odaily News","source_url":"https://www.odaily.news/en/newsflash/476044"},{"date":"2025-10-01","event":"ZachXBT publicly links Spartans.com to the BlockDAG controversy by identifying alleged co-founder Gurhan Kiziloz as the same individual behind BlockDAG Network, which ZachXBT alleges raised over $300 million from retail investors through misleading social media advertising.","source":"ZachXBT on X","source_url":"https://x.com/zachxbt/status/2042240033479184429"},{"date":"2025-10-15","event":"ZachXBT reports having received complaints from at least 10-15 BlockDAG investors claiming financial losses, and warns the market about projects connected to Gurhan Kiziloz. Kiziloz allegedly later acknowledged involvement with BlockDAG after leaked documents and wallet details were surfaced.","source":"PANews / ZachXBT on X","source_url":"https://www.panewslab.com/en/articles/019d7291-1ffb-72e9-9894-a03a6ba08c99"},{"date":"2025-12-31","event":"Nexus International claims $1.2 billion in platform inflows for the full year 2025, with Spartans.com as its flagship brand. These figures are unaudited and sourced from company-issued communications.","source":"TechFinancials.co.za / Insider Monkey","source_url":"https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/nexus-international-reaches-1-2-billion-in-2025-revenue-as-gurhan-kiziloz-reinvests-heavily-into-global-expansion-1681587/"}]},"v":1}