Major UK gambling companies are using cartoon and cartoon characters to promote online betting games to children , according to an investigation by The Sunday Times . The companies are using a legal loophole that permits them to target children without breaching Gambling Commission regulations . Many of the games can be played free and without registration or age checks . The games — many of which can be played for free without registration or any age-verification checks — include Peter Pan on the Paddy Power website; Jack and the Beanstalk on the 888 website with a minimum bet of 20p and maximum bet of £200; and Moon Princess on the Casinoland website with a minimum stake of 20p and maximum stake of £100. Stakes range from 1p to £ ##5 . The characters and stories being used include Peter Pan , Jack and the Beanstalk and Moon Princess . An estimated 450,000 children gamble each week in England and Wales according to the Charity Commission .
Major UK gambling companies are using cartoon and cartoon characters to promote online betting games to children , according to an investigation by The Sunday Times . The companies are using a legal loophole that permits them to target children without breaching Gambling Commission regulations . Many of the games can be played free and without registration or age checks . Stakes range from 1p to £ ##5 . The characters and stories being used include Peter Pan , Jack and the Beanstalk and Moon Princess . An estimated 450,000 children gamble each week in England and Wales according to the Charity Commission .