Man Imprisoned for 5 Years Over Bonus Frauds at Bet365

The man in question is Jonathan Howard from Sussex. The 40-year-old man has been charged with fraud over a court…

Updated on 04/02/2026

The man in question is Jonathan Howard from Sussex. The 40-year-old man has been charged with fraud over a court case that lasted for four weeks trial in court.

The man was sentenced to jail for five years for his fraudulent activity.

Multiple Accounts

Since 2008, the man has forged over 1,000 gambling accounts at Bet365 Casino, where he claimed bonuses amounting to around £236,000. These bonuses are generally meant only for new players that subscribe to the casino.

How did the accused create fake accounts? He used personal data pertaining to other people – therefore owning a myriad of different users to the casino platform, and created a monopoly of benefits through multiple accounts that the user could never have done with one singular account.

Investigation

In 2018, Sussex police say that this fraudulent activity came under their scrutiny, and from then on, a thorough investigation was kickstarted.

The case included searching through the accused’s house, where they found multiple bank books and 117 sim cards – all used to create multiple identities.

The case was closed last week, where Jonathan Howard was sentenced to five years in prison.

Fraudulent Activity

Fraudulent activity is not exclusive to the user; even online casinos can exhibit illegitimate behaviour. For this reason, we keep a list in check of all the blacklisted casinos in Canada.

We keep it constantly updated, and we suggest you keep it bookmarked for easy reference.

Gambling Awareness: Staying in the Green

At CanadaCasino, we believe that the best way to enjoy online gaming is to stay informed and in control. In the Canadian market, gambling should always be viewed as a form of paid entertainment, much like a movie ticket or a hockey game—never as a source of income.

The Golden Rules of Responsible Play

To keep your experience positive, we recommend following the Lower-Risk Gambling Guidelines developed by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction:

Set a Hard Budget: Only wager what you can afford to lose. Once that “entertainment fund” is gone, it is time to log off.
Time Management: Use your phone or casino tools to set session timers. It is easy to lose track of time when you’re on a roll.
Avoid “The Chase”: Trying to win back losses is the most common pitfall. Accept a loss as the “cost of play” and walk away.
Play Sober and Focused: Never gamble when you are stressed, upset, or under the influence of alcohol or substances.

If you ever feel that gambling is no longer just entertainment, it’s important to know that help is available. Independent organizations like GambleAware provide free, confidential advice, tools, and support for anyone looking to understand their gambling habits better or seek professional help.

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Author

Marcelo de Morais Russo Site Manager & Website Optimization Specialist

Marcelo is an Editorial Specialist specializing in the iGaming sector, with over five years of experience managing and optimizing more than 20 casino and sportsbook websites across global markets. He has worked with leading operators, where he focused on transparent, data-driven content strategies that promote responsible gambling. His expertise spans Web Optimization management, product coordination, and operational efficiency, ensuring consistent performance and compliance.