3+ weeks
£10 / €10
2,500+
35x-50x
PAGCOR
2023
18+ | T&Cs Apply | BeGambleAware.org
Review Date: January 2026 | Status: Active but operationally compromised. Evidence of systematic withdrawal obstruction and regulatory evasion detected.
We began this investigation with a fundamental question: Who owns Fat Pirate Casino? The answer exposes the first critical red flag.
The site lists Invicta Tech LTD as its operator in some disclosures, while sister site directories reference Affina Affiliates Ltd, registered in the Marshall Islands. This dual ownership claim is not a clerical error. It is a deliberate obfuscation tactic used by unlicensed operators to:
The Marshall Islands registration provides zero consumer protection. This jurisdiction has no gambling regulatory framework, no player dispute resolution mechanisms, and no enforcement capacity. Legitimate operators use Malta, UK, or Gibraltar licensing—jurisdictions with strict auditing, player protection funds, and ombudsman services.
Ownership Verdict: Shell company structure designed to evade accountability. No transparent corporate registry available.
Our investigation identified six connected casinos sharing the same operational deficiencies:
All six sites share identical licensing fraud (fake PAGCOR claims), withdrawal obstruction patterns, and predatory targeting strategies. This is not coincidence. It is evidence of a coordinated network designed to distribute regulatory risk and maximize victim reach before enforcement action.
When one site faces regulatory shutdown or payment processor bans, the network continues operating under alternative domains. Players who successfully file chargebacks against one entity find the others remain active, harvesting new deposits.
We conducted a standard license verification process. Here is what we found.
The Process: We navigated to the footer of Fat Pirate Casino and located the licensing claim: PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation).
The Problem: PAGCOR is the Philippine state-owned gaming authority that regulates land-based casinos and sports betting within the Philippines. It is not an international online casino regulator. PAGCOR does not issue licenses for offshore iGaming operations targeting European or North American players.
This is a common fraud tactic. Operators cite legitimate-sounding regulators with vague authority to create false legitimacy. The average player sees “Gaming Corporation” and assumes oversight exists. It does not.
Validator Test: We attempted to verify the license through PAGCOR’s official registry. No validation system exists for online casino operations. The license number provided on the site cannot be independently confirmed.
Fat Pirate Casino operates without legitimate regulatory oversight. There is no third-party auditing of:
If this site confiscates your winnings, you have no regulatory body to file a complaint with. No ombudsman will investigate. No licensing authority will audit the transaction logs. You have zero legal recourse. By contrast, operators licensed by the UK Gambling Commission are required to maintain segregated player funds, submit to regular audits, and provide access to independent dispute resolution.
License Verdict: INVALID. PAGCOR is not a recognized iGaming regulator for international online casinos. This is licensing fraud.
Aggregated review platforms often show inflated ratings due to purchased reviews. We focus on recent, detailed complaints that reveal operational patterns.
Between November and December 2024, multiple users reported identical withdrawal obstruction tactics:
Case 1: Elizabeth Barrett
Won £40. Unable to withdraw for two months. Customer service insisted she use a cryptocurrency wallet as the sole withdrawal method. No explanation provided for blocking standard banking options. Eventually received partial payment after persistent complaints.
Case 2: Steph
Submitted withdrawal request on Monday. As of Friday, status remained “pending” with no transaction reference number. Customer service responses: “It will be with you soon” and “Processing times vary.” No supervisor contact available. Withdrawal remained unpaid at time of complaint.
Case 3: Anonymous User (Casino.Guru Forum)
Withdrawal cancelled after two days due to “technical issues.” Attempted to resubmit withdrawal. Account interface blocked resubmission with error message. Customer service claimed “system maintenance” but provided no resolution timeline. User filed chargeback with bank.
Case 4: Rachael Davies
Requested self-exclusion due to gambling harm. Instead of immediate account closure (required by responsible gambling standards), customer service interrogated her about reasons and offered “VIP bonuses” to continue playing. When she persisted, account was closed but pending withdrawal (£340) was voided under claim of “bonus abuse.” No explanation of violated terms provided.
Multiple users report that KYC (Know Your Customer) verification was only requested after winning, not during registration. This is illegal under responsible gambling frameworks.
Legitimate operators require identity verification before accepting deposits. Requesting verification only after large wins serves one purpose: to create bureaucratic delays that pressure players to reverse withdrawals and lose funds back to the casino.
Users report submitting:
Only to be told documents are “unclear” or “require additional verification” with no specific guidance. One user submitted the same documents six times over three weeks. The withdrawal was eventually cancelled due to “account verification failure,” and winnings were voided.
Reputation Verdict: Classic scam pattern. Systematic withdrawal obstruction across multiple victim reports spanning months. No evidence of resolution.
| Method | Advertised Time | Real Player Experience | Verification Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum) | 2-4 hours | 3-7 days (forced method for large wins) | Yes, only after win |
| Wire Transfer | 3-5 business days | 3+ weeks or never processed | Yes, only after win |
| Debit/Credit Card | 3-5 business days | Frequently rejected with “technical issues” | Yes, only after win |
| E-Wallets (Skrill, Neteller) | 24-48 hours | 2+ weeks with multiple cancellations | Yes, only after win |
Multiple users report being told their only withdrawal option is cryptocurrency—even when they deposited via card or e-wallet. This tactic serves two purposes:
Elizabeth Barrett’s case is illustrative: She deposited £40 via debit card, won £40, and was told she could only withdraw via Bitcoin. When she protested, customer service stated this was “policy for security reasons.” She eventually created a Bitcoin wallet, but the withdrawal took two months to process.
When withdrawals are cancelled, the site blames “technical issues” or “payment processor errors.” No transaction logs are provided. No error codes are given. No resolution timeline is offered.
One user reported his withdrawal was cancelled three times over three weeks. Each time, customer service claimed a different reason:
The withdrawal was never processed. He filed a chargeback and the account was immediately banned for “fraudulent activity.”
Withdrawal Verdict: Systematic obstruction. No legitimate operator exhibits this pattern across multiple users and months.
Fat Pirate Casino explicitly markets itself as a “Non-GamStop casino,” targeting UK players who have self-excluded from licensed operators due to gambling harm.
GamStop is the UK’s national self-exclusion program. Players who register are banned from all UK Gambling Commission-licensed casinos. This protection exists because gambling addiction is a recognized harm requiring intervention.
Unlicensed casinos like Fat Pirate deliberately circumvent GamStop to target the most vulnerable players—those who have already recognized they have a problem and taken steps to protect themselves. This is predatory by design.
If you are in the UK and deposit at Fat Pirate:
The site restricts Swedish players (Sweden has strict enforcement) but accepts UK players. This selective enforcement reveals deliberate targeting of jurisdictions where enforcement is slower.
Rachael Davies’s case exposes another predatory tactic. When she requested self-exclusion due to gambling harm, customer service:
Legitimate operators close accounts immediately upon self-exclusion request. No questions. No delays. No bonus offers. This is required by responsible gambling standards. For support with gambling-related concerns, GambleAware provides free resources and confidential advice.
Fat Pirate’s response reveals the operation’s priority: extracting maximum deposits before players realize the scam.
Our forensic investigation identified multiple critical failures across corporate structure, licensing, withdrawal integrity, and player treatment. The evidence is unambiguous.
Corporate Structure: Shell company obfuscation via dual ownership claims (Invicta Tech LTD / Affina Affiliates Ltd). Marshall Islands registration provides zero oversight.
Licensing: PAGCOR claim is fraudulent. PAGCOR does not regulate international online casinos. No legitimate iGaming license exists.
Withdrawals: Systematic obstruction documented across multiple users and months. Pattern includes technical cancellations, verification loops, forced crypto conversion, and unexplained delays of 3+ weeks.
Predatory Targeting: Explicitly markets to UK self-excluded players (GamStop circumvention). Operates illegally in UK without UKGC license.
Sister Site Network: Connected to six casinos sharing identical fraud patterns, indicating coordinated scam operation.
Reputation: Recent complaints (Nov-Dec 2024) show classic scam pattern: small wins approved to build trust, large wins blocked via bureaucratic obstruction.
Fat Pirate Casino exhibits all hallmarks of a systematic fraud operation designed to extract deposits while obstructing withdrawals through bureaucratic delay tactics. The fake licensing claim, shell company structure, predatory targeting of vulnerable players, and documented withdrawal obstruction across multiple victims over months constitute clear evidence of scam operation.
Final Safety Rating: 2.1/10 (High-Risk Scam)
Jake has been reviewing online casinos since 2021, specializing in bonus analysis and withdrawal testing. Before publishing any review, he deposits his own money to verify bonus terms, wagering requirements, and payout speeds firsthand. His testing methodology focuses on what matters most to players: Can you actually withdraw your winnings, and how long does it take? Jake has completed over 200 successful withdrawals across 45+ different casinos, documenting each one with timestamps and screenshots.
What He Verifies
