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João Mourato
Head of iGaming Product
João Mourato is Head of iGaming Product at VIP-Grinders and is responsible for what the casino and crypto casino side of the site says. He has worked in iGaming since 2014, on the operator side before the affiliate side.
Testing and Research
João opens most of the accounts behind the casino reviews on this site and runs the testing personally, funding them himself rather than accepting an operator account. How that works, and where it stops, is set out in our testing methodology.
He also authors most of our published studies, including the quarterly Crypto Casino Market Report, which tracks onchain deposits across 41 operators, alongside work on US gambling behaviour, casino market data and search demand.
His analysis has been quoted by the New York Post, Deseret News, CW33, Florida Politics and Florida Daily.
Operator Side
As Country Manager and Product Owner at The Rank Group, João helped launch a licensed sportsbook and casino for the Portuguese regulated market and led the product roadmap for the Enracha sportsbook brand in Spain.
Before that he was Product Owner at Nossa Aposta, a licensed Portuguese operator, running day to day sportsbook and casino operations, retention campaigns, and affiliate deal strategy.
Earlier he held Sportsbook Manager and Sports CRM Coordinator roles at Aspire Global, covering risk classification, promotional campaigns and the launch of B2B and B2C sportsbook products across regulated markets.
That is the part most affiliate writers do not have. He has sat in the meetings where bonus terms get written, which is a useful thing to have done before reading one.
Before iGaming
João spent over four years as a Content Writer and Betting Expert at Sportsbook Review, analysing tennis betting markets and producing editorial for SBR and OddsMarket.
His career started in sports journalism, covering professional tennis for outlets including Ubitennis, with on-site reporting at the 2013 Portugal Open. From 2014 to 2017 he ran a verified tennis betting advisory service with over 2,500 tracked plays.
Based in Malta, he spends his free time on the tennis or padel court.
Areas of expertise: Casino and Crypto Casino Reviews, Bonus Terms and Wagering Requirements, Cashier and Payment Testing, Crypto Casino Market Data, Sportsbook Product, Regulated Market Operations
Latest Articles by João Mourato
Does WPT Global Have Poker Bots and AI Assistants?
$427,481 confiscated from banned accounts in ten months, one streamer banned in half an hour, and a 130-account report still waiting on an answer.
The Biggest Poker Debts and Scams of All Time
Every major poker debt and staking scam ranked by amount, from a $15 million disappearance to a Supreme Court lawyer serving six years.
The Biggest Poker Scandals and Cheaters in History
The complete history of poker cheating, from the UltimateBet superuser scandal and Full Tilt’s Black Friday collapse to the Robbi Jade Lew controversy, the RTA epidemic, and the FBI’s Operation Royal Flush.
The Largest Cash Game Pots in Poker History
Every verified cash game pot over $1,000,000 ever played on a televised or livestreamed poker show, ranked by size. From Ossi Ketola’s $12,700,000 record at Triton Jeju to the legendary $9 million Robl vs Dwan private game.
Dana White Asks Trump to Reverse the 90% Gambling Loss Tax Cap
UFC President Dana White sent a letter to President Trump urging him to reverse the 90% gambling loss deduction cap.
Roobet Launches Prediction Markets: First Major Crypto Casino to Offer Event Trading
Roobet launched prediction markets on May 6, 2026, powered by Polymarket, becoming the first major crypto casino to offer event contract trading.
UK’s 40% Gambling Tax Is Live: What Players Actually Lose Starting April 1
The 40% Remote Gaming Duty is now live. 200 William Hill shops closing, bonuses halved, RTPs dropping. What UK poker, casino and sports betting players need to know.
GGVegas St. Patrick’s Day 2026: 133 Free Spins on Deposit (March 17 to 21)
GGVegas is giving new players 133 free spins for St. Patrick’s Day, starting at just $3.99. The offer runs March 17 to 21 and stacks with the standard welcome package.
BC.GAME Hacked: $4.3M Stolen Through Third Party Game Exploit, $500K Bounty Offered
A hacker stole $4,326,700 from BC.GAME by exploiting a third party game, then lost $1.53M of it shorting ETH on Hyperliquid. On chain investigators have already linked the wallet to a convicted cybercriminal.
UK Plans Ban on Unlicensed Gambling Sponsors: 7 Premier League Clubs, £50 Million, and a 40% Tax Problem
The UK government wants to ban unlicensed gambling sponsors from Premier League shirts. The problem is that its own tax hike to 40%, new stake limits, and mandatory financial checks are making the licensed alternative less competitive at exactly the same time.
Ocean Rewards: GGPoker’s New Loyalty Program
GGPoker is moving from Fish Buffet to Ocean Rewards in 2026. Expect up to 80% cashback, year-long tier protection, and simpler rewards. It’s built for consistent play. Here’s the breakdown and how the switch happens.
AI Betting Booms: Experts Reveal What Consumers Need to Know
Searches for AI sports betting soar 4,000%. Learn hidden risks of ChatGPT sports tips, data privacy threats, and safe betting practices from industry pros.