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NetBet Enterprises Limited has been fined £650,000 ($850,400) after the UK Gambling Commission found AML and social responsibility failures.
An investigation from the UKGC has found anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures at online gambling business NetBet Enterprises Limited. The company, which runs NetBet and partners with various casino games providers, must now pay £650,000 towards socially responsible causes and undergo an independent audit.

NetBet Enterprises Limited will pay £650,000 after a Commission investigation revealed anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures.
To read more about this, visit our website https://t.co/D0cqur675d pic.twitter.com/j2yCnSLifV
— Gambling Commission (@GamRegGB) November 5, 2025

Specifically, the UKGC found that NetBet was overly reliant on financial triggers, with cases found where users were able to spend more than they should based on their net income. Concerning behaviors from customers were also overlooked by NetBet, where they should have been flagged as potential risks.
NetBet’s money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment was also found lacking, particularly when it comes to the management of third-party business relationships, high-stakes gambling, and controls relating to third-country nationals residing in the UK.
NetBet was also pulled up on social responsibility failures
On top of the AML failures, NetBet were also found to have ineffective customer interaction systems, leading to risk of customers being exposed to gambling-related harm. Warning signs of harmful behavior, like overnight play, rapid deposits, maximizing limits, and escalated gameplay, were not identified soon enough, and often only via a manual review. Incorrect information was also submitted in NetBet’s regulatory returns.
“This case highlights the serious consequences of failing to meet anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations,” said John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement. “We expect all operators to take note and ensure their systems are not only well-designed but are working effectively to protect consumers and to keep crime out of gambling.”
Pierce went on to explain that NetBet is required to take immediate action to rectify the failings, as well as pay the fine and conduct an independent audit as noted above.
“Our focus is on ensuring operators meet the standards we expect, and where they fall short, we will intervene,” concluded Pierce.
ReadWrite has contacted NetBet Enterprises Limited for comment.
Featured image: NetBet Enterprises Limited
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In today’s competitive sales landscape, businesses need more than spreadsheets to manage their customer relationships. The right CRM solution uses automation, AI, and integrations to streamline processes, drive sales growth, and encourage stronger customer relationships. Because many CRM platforms offer different features and varying levels of ease of use, comparing them is essential when selecting the best CRM platform for your business.
1. monday CRM
monday CRM gives growing sales teams the speed and flexibility they need, without the high costs of traditional platforms. Setup takes days instead of months, and AI is built in from the start to eliminate repetitive updates and surface the hottest opportunities. With features like communication summaries, lead prioritization, and deal sentiment analysis, reps can focus on closing deals faster. Companies like Velv saw 100% adoption in just two weeks and a 60% drop in manual work, underscoring the platform’s real-world impact. Pricing is another differentiator. Compared to Salesforce and HubSpot, monday CRM is more affordable while still offering advanced features and fast time to value. The platform continues to expand with new products such as monday campaigns, a marketing solution launched earlier this month, reinforcing its evolution into a complete suite for revenue teams.
For companies already on monday work management, the CRM integrates seamlessly, keeping sales, projects, and operations connected in one ecosystem. With more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue and recognition in the 2025 GartnerⓇ Magic Quadrant for Sales Force Automation, monday CRM’s market momentum is undeniable.
2. Zoho CRM
Zoho CRM is a great choice for small to mid-sized businesses that are seeking enterprise-level features without the price tag. The platform’s advanced analytics capabilities provide insights into sales performance, customer behavior, and marketing trends, making Zoho a scalable solution across its broad range of products.
3. Hubspot CRM
Hobspot’s CRM is one of the most generous across the market, offering pipeline management, automation, and marketing integrations often priced higher elsewhere. The platform’s marketing integration provides a unified view of the customer journey from first interaction and beyond, and its paid tiers offer advanced features that include custom reporting and automation workflows.
4. Freshsales
Freshsales’s intelligent lead scoring system utilizes machine learning to identify promising prospects, enabling sales teams to prioritize their efforts effectively. Built-in tools, including phone, email, and chat, are integrated into the platform, ensuring that customer interactions do not fall through the cracks. Advanced analytics and reporting provide real-time insights into performance and revenue forecasting.
5. Pipedrive
Pipedrive’s design was created with the idea of simplicity and visual clarity, which makes it a great choice for teams that want functionality without overt complexity. Its signature visual sales pipeline provides ways to track leads through each stage of the process, and a drag-and-drop interface makes it easier to update deal stages, ensuring the system matches your unique sales process.
6. Salesforce
As one of the most established CRMs, Salesforce has a vast ecosystem of apps that can help grow your business. Its Einstein AI feature provides predictive insights, and its customizable dashboards support businesses of all sizes.
7. Dynamics 365 by Microsoft
Perfect for companies that use Microsoft tools, Dynamics 365 seamlessly integrates with Office, Teams, and Power BI. With its AI-powered forecasting and built-in business intelligence, it’s a great tool for driving growth.
8. Insightly
This CRM platform does more than just manage contacts; it offers project management tools within the same platform. Insightly is a good choice for businesses that want to consolidate all their customer interactions and task management in one place.
9. Nimble
Focused on simplicity and social media integration, Nimble is an excellent option for small businesses and entrepreneurs. It automatically updates contacts with social insights, perfect for building personalized customer relationships.
10. Keap (formerly Infusionsoft)
For small companies looking to automate their marketing and have it built into their CRM, Keap is a good choice. It provides everything enterprises need for growth inclusively, including email campaigns, invoicing, and client follow-ups.
Why These CRMs Stand Out in 2025
The way CRMs are designed and utilized can be defined by several trends that the above five platforms have embraced. These include:

Automation that saves time and increases efficiency: The McKinsey Global Institute indicates that by 2020, 30% of employee hours could be automated by Generative AI [McKinsey Global Institute, 2013]. This frees up not only valuable time but also reduces repetitive tasks in the process.

Generative AI used across various systems: Adobe for Business indicates that 56% of the advanced users of generative AI in marketing and CX use data and analytics to predict their customers’ needs [Adobe for Business, 2025].

AI enhances decision-making: The power behind AI-driven CRMs can increase sales and marketing ROI by up to 20%. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence for predictive analytics and customer recommendations, sales teams can focus their efforts on identifying and capitalizing on greater opportunities.

Choosing the Right CRM Platform for Your Business
Choosing and utilizing a CRM platform or service requires careful consideration of several factors that can include:

Business size and complexity: Small businesses and startups may benefit from free offerings from major CRMs, while larger organizations may require more customizable options to derive full value from a CRM service.

Industry-specific needs: Some businesses may prefer an all-in-one approach, while others might require a CRM that offers plug-and-play features.

Budget considerations: Costs can be a significant factor when choosing a CRM, as a business’s growth may require additional features or users in the future.

The CRM market offers a wide range of choices and varying levels of functionality for businesses of all sizes. Whether you need basic management solutions or those run by sophisticated AI automations, there is a solution that can help you grow your business in a smarter, more efficient way, all while helping you build stronger customer connections in the process.
FAQs: Choosing the Best CRM
Which CRM platform is the most affordable?
Zoho and HubSpot are among the most budget-friendly, with free or low-cost tiers available to smaller businesses that may have fewer needs.
What is the Best CRM for small businesses?
Options like Pipedrive and monday CRM are great for growing teams that need ease of use and automation.
Do CRMs really increase sales?
Yes. By centralizing data, automating tasks, and improving follow-ups, CRM platforms may help businesses close more deals.
 
Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters on Unsplash
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Hong Kong and Singapore Police have announced the seizure of luxury and cash assets linked to a cryptocurrency, gambling, and money laundering scheme involving Prince Holding Group’s founder, Chen Zhi.
Both police operations relate to the Department of Justice (DoJ) case centering around Zi, and the allegations of money laundering, cryptocurrency forced-labor scams, and illegal gambling rings.
As we reported, the DoJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have seized 127,271 Bitcoin, currently worth approximately $15 billion, that is linked to illicit gambling activities in what has been a global operation to hamstring the network Chen built.
Hong Kong and Singapore Police seize assets linked to Prince Holding Group founder
The Singapore Police reported that, as part of a case built by the nation’s Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office (STRO), Chen had multiple locations of interest that were tied to a broader global case.
After collaborating with the UK and US members of the Anti-Money Laundering Case Coordination and Collaboration Network (AC3N), the Singapore Police decided to strike at the assets.
This resulted in the recovery of S$150 million ($115.9 million) in funds from raids across six properties, with Director of the Commercial Affairs Department, David Chew, speaking about the collaborative effort of multiple agencies.
“The crimes cross many borders, and witnesses, exhibits, and assets have been secured in several jurisdictions. We will continue to work with our foreign law enforcement counterparts and financial intelligence units and domestic partners to fight such organised crime groups and money laundering networks,” said Chew.
Hong Kong Police reported a similar tactical deployment, according to Reuters, with an asset seizure total of HK$2.75 billion ($354 million).
According to the news report, a police spokesperson said, “The frozen assets, including cash, stocks, and funds held by individuals and corporate entities, are believed to be crime proceeds linked to the concerned syndicate.”
Chen’s global assets under seizure
This would not be the only Southeast Asian nation to step in to act on Chen and the Prince Holding Group, as Taiwan also launched its own asset seizure.
This resulted in the seizure of T$4.5 billion ($147.09 million) in assets, including properties, luxury vehicles, and bank accounts.
In the UK, Chen owned million-pound properties in Avenue Road, North London; Fenchurch Street; and 17 flats on New Oxford Street and in Nine Elms, South London, all of which were seized.
“The masterminds behind these horrific scam centres are ruining the lives of vulnerable people and buying up London homes to store their money,” said UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Featured image: Singapore Police
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