Irish Influencer Under Fire for Promoting Unlicensed Gambling Site After Central Bank Probe

Content creator Jonathan Finlay, known online as Nasti_2k, is facing scrutiny for promoting an unlicensed gambling website, Gambana.com, months after a Central Bank investigation into his promotion of an unauthorized financial trading platform.

Finlay, who boasts a significant following across Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram, previously promoted T4Trade, a Seychelles-registered financial trading platform. The Central Bank investigated after determining that neither T4Trade nor Finlay were authorized to provide financial services in Ireland. The Central Bank stated it could not comment on the specifics of the investigation due to confidentiality obligations.

T4Trade itself acknowledged it did not target EU residents, as it lacked the necessary license to operate within the jurisdiction.

From Trading to Bets: A Shift to Unregulated Gambling

Following the investigation into T4Trade, Finlay shifted his focus to promoting Gambana.com, an online gambling site. Gambana does not hold a license to operate in Ireland, either from the Revenue Commissioners or the newly established Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI). As of March 10, 2026, no operators are yet licensed under the GRAI regime, though existing licenses from Revenue remain valid until the GRAI takes over.

The GRAI has stated that operating without a valid license is unlawful and can result in up to eight years’ imprisonment upon conviction. According to the GRAI, illegal gambling carries risks including compromised personal and financial data.

Influencer’s Reach and “High Rollers” Group

Finlay has over 277,000 followers on Instagram and 669,000 on TikTok, where he shares content about luxury lifestyles, including travel and event attendance. He previously claimed his income primarily came from financial trading, enabling his lifestyle.

Finlay now operates a Telegram group with over 7,000 members, promoting Gambana and claiming to offer superior odds. He also runs a VIP “High Rollers” group accessible to those who deposit at least €100 into a Gambana account.

Finlay has publicly stated he has been banned from licensed betting websites like Bet365 and Boylesports, claiming he has been “beating the bookies.”

Disclosure Concerns and CCPC Guidance

While Finlay’s solicitors, Lavelle Partners, confirmed a commercial partnership with Gambana and stated he clarifies he is not a financial advisor, concerns remain regarding disclosure of his affiliate relationship. Lavelle Partners stated Finlay uses a “BA” (brand ambassador) label on some posts.

But, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has clarified that “BA” is a secondary label and does not satisfy requirements for clear advertisement labeling. The CCPC requires primary labels such as “#ad” or platform-provided “paid partnership” labels. Grainne Griffin, Director of Communications at the CCPC, emphasized the importance of transparency and noted the CCPC has taken enforcement action against other influencers.

Gambana’s Ownership and Licensing

Gambana.com is owned by JJAM Holdings Ltd, a company registered in Belize, and licensed by the Government of Anjouan, part of the Union of Comoros.