 - Casino.org_ - www.casino.org.png)
7 hours ago
6
- The Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds has temporarily closed
- The UKGC ordered the casino to shut down after finding alleged regulatory violations
Gaming activities at the Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds were suspended on Friday at the order of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
The Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds, UK. The casino has been shut down by the UK Gambling Commission due to a myriad of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing concerns. (Image: Shutterstock)In a suspension of license notice published on the UKGC website, the country’s gambling regulator levied numerous allegations against the Leeds casino, which is roughly 35 miles northeast of Manchester.
The Gambling Commission said a review of the property’s gaming operations was conducted after concerns were raised that activities may have been conducted in violation of the Gambling Act. The probe concluded that the Victoria Gate Casino failed to maintain effective policies, procedures, and controls to effectively combat money laundering.
The UKGC also said it found evidence to suggest that the casino management’s response to identified anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing shortcomings was more than inadequate and raised “questions about the overall effectiveness of its governance and risk-management arrangements.”
Therefore, the casino was immediately shut down.
Casino Not Transparent About Suspension
The UKGC is an independent body of His Majesty’s Government. The body licenses, regulates, and advises nearly all forms of gambling, including the National Lottery, throughout Great Britain.
The UKGC rarely forces a casino to immediately shut down on alleged regulatory violations. The body typically allows a licensee to defend its operation or take immediate remedial measures to come into compliance.
UKGC officials say the Leeds casino matter is different.
These failings are considered significant and represent a serious threat to the licensing objectives, in particular keeping crime out of gambling,” the UKGC’s license suspension notice read. “We have made it clear to the operator that during the suspension, we expect it to focus on treating consumers fairly and keeping them fully informed of any developments which impact them.”
The Victoria Gate Casino doesn’t exactly do that currently. When Casino.org opened the property’s website, things seemed to be normal. It was only when we went to close the website that we noticed a small notice in the top right-hand corner: “Licensee’s license has been suspended by the Commission.”
Victoria Gate’s social media also does not inform that the casino has been shuttered.
However, a sign has been posted on the casino’s physical door.
“We are sorry to confirm that our operating license has been temporarily suspended by the Commission and our venue is currently closed. We hope to open and welcome you back very soon,” the notice read.
Victoria Gate Casino
Victoria Gate is a casino from Global Gaming Ventures in partnership with British property developer Hammerson. The casino opened in January 2017 as part of the Victoria Gate retail and hospitality center.
The casino was constructed for £30 million. Before its shuttering, the 50K-square-foot casino operated about 175 slot machines, electronic roulette, and blackjack table games.
The UK Gambling Act was passed in 2005. The legislation modernized casino gambling to regulate iGaming, but was primarily designed to address problem gambling and safeguard gambling operations from being used to facilitate crime.
In October 2021, Victoria Gate Casino was fined £450K after a UKGC probe found “social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.”
The post Victoria Gate Casino Seemingly Not Complying With UKGC Order appeared first on Casino.org.
