Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds has had its operating licence suspended due to serious concerns over anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing measures.
The suspension affects VGC Leeds Limited (operating licence no 000-043603-N-322897-005) and is being carried out under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.
The day before, the commission took a similar measure against Spribe OÜ “on grounds of suitability, due to serious non-compliance with the licensing framework’s hosting requirements.
The provider took it to its LinkedIn page to acknowledge the suspension of its license and reiterate its intention to work hard on fixing the problem by taking the matter “extremely seriously”.
“Our Venue Is Currently Closed”
The closure, which took effect on Friday, October 31, comes amid a thorough compliance assessment completed by the UK Gambling Commission that highlighted a series of important failings in the way the casino implemented policies and procedures.
A notice posted at the casino confirmed the temporary suspension and expressed hope to reopen soon. “We hope to open and welcome you back very soon,” the announcement read.
The Gambling Commission said its review uncovered “serious concerns regarding the adequacy of decision-making processes and the licensee’s response to identified anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing risks, raising questions about the overall effectiveness of its governance and risk management arrangements.”
The regulator went on to emphasize that the respective failings posed a significant threat to their well-known licensing objectives, particularly the goal of preventing crime in the gambling sector.
During the compliance assessment, the casino was found to have failed to implement and maintain effective AML policies, procedures, and controls.
The Commission has made it clear that while the suspension is in place, it expects the operator to prioritize treating consumers in a fair manner and keep them fully informed of any developments that might affect them in any way.
The Gambling Commission will continue its review to determine next steps for the casino. In the meantime, Victoria Gate Casino remains closed, and customers are being asked to await further updates.