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Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds has been shut down after the UK Gambling Commission suspended its license.
Leeds’ Victoria Gate Casino was shut down on Friday (October 31), following an investigation by the Gambling Commission due to concerns about anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing risks. The UKGC has suspended its licence after a compliance assessment found significant failings in the casino’s policies and controls.
The UKGC has deemed Victoria Gate Casino as “unsuitable to carry on the licensed activities”, with the assessment revealing that the operator has “failed to maintain and implement effective anti-money laundering policies, procedures, and controls, as required under the conditions of their licence”. The commission will continue to review the casino’s operation moving forward.
As it stands, the casino has shut down its operations with immediate effect, leaving a notice up at the front of the Leeds establishment stating that the license has been “temporarily suspended”.
“We hope to open and welcome you back very soon,” reads the notice. A message has also been added to the casino’s website. The UKGC has not given any indication of how long the further review will take in its statement.

“These failings are considered significant and represent a serious threat to the licensing objectives, in particular keeping crime out of gambling,” said the UKGC. “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 importance of anti-money laundering measures
With gambling, especially in physical casinos, being a cash-heavy business, anti-money laundering is a vital measure for any operator. Authorities around the world are typically strict on AML policies, with Australia’s financial watchdog similarly clamping down on inadequate policies earlier this year. Denmark also recently revamped its policies to be in keeping with modern demands.
ReadWrite has contacted Victoria Gate Casino for further comment.
Featured image: Yapp App via Facebook
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Romania’s National Gambling Office has added Polymarket to its blacklist of unauthorized gambling operator websites.
The National Gambling Office (ONJN) added Polymarket to its blacklist as of October 29, meaning it has found that the platofrm has been conducting gambling activities without a license on Romanian territory. This comes after the prediction market saw what the ONJN deemed as “explosive growth” in the build-up to the Romanian election.
Data from Polymarket shows that Romania’s presidential elections saw transactions valued at $600 million, while the Bucharest local elections pulled in a not insubstantial $15 million. As a prediction market, Polymarket allowed users to bet on the outcome of the elections. The use in Romania echoes similar patterns that took place during the US elections.
Polymarket’s status in Romania
The ONJN has classified Polymarket as “a counterparty bet”, arguing that wagers placed on the platform include stakes, future uncertain events, counterparties (meaning users are betting against one another), and terminology on the platform around “placing bets”. In addition, Polymarket does act as an intermediary, taking a commission from placed bets without guaranteeing the odds.
“The platform does not intermediate investments,” stated the ONJGN. “It organizes bets between participants, without a license and without oversight.”
This has led to the ONJN adding Polymarket to its blacklist, reiterating that any form of online gambling must be licensed and supervised in the interest of protecting both users and the states from what it deems “major risks”. The decision is being communicated to internet service providers so that they can take action to block access to the platform for those based in Romania.
“The decision to include Polymarket on the blacklist is not about technology, but about the law,” said Vlad-Cristian Soare, the ONJN President. “Regardless of whether you bet in lei or in crypto, if you stake money on a future outcome, under the conditions of a counterparty bet, we are talking about gambling that must be licensed. ONJN will not allow blockchain to become a cover for illegal betting.”
Polymarket was briefly banned in the US, after the CFTC also determined that its activity constituted unlicensed gambling, as well as similar actions being taken in other countries such as Belgium, France, Poland, Singapore, and Thailand.
Readwrite has reached out to Polymarket for comment.
Featured image: Polymarket
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Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has exposed a potentially serious prediction markets issue through a lighthearted side.
Armstrong closed Coinbase’s quarterly earnings call on Thursday (October 30) with a quickfire list of buzzwords: “Bitcoin, Ethereum, blockchain, staking and Web3.” Rather than being anything actionable for the company, the words were chosen based on what users of prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket had bet would come up during the call.
“I was a little distracted because I was tracking the prediction market about what Coinbase will say on their next earnings call,” Armstrong said in his parting remarks, as reported by Bloomberg. “I just want to add here the words Bitcoin, Ethereum, blockchain, staking, and Web3, to make sure we get those in before the end of the call.”
While seemingly meant in jest, the quip shows how easy it would be for some people to influence what was, in this case, an $84,000 betting market. Prediction markets allow users to bet on niche categories related to any number of topics, including earning call topics and other social or business themes.
At the point where Armstrong was browsing the markets at the end of the call, many wagered terms hadn’t been said – but the CEO could then fulfil the terms of the bet by saying them in rapid succession. Odds shifted and wagers were paid out, in a move that could easily be seen as intentional.
Armstrong made it clear on social media that the line was a spontaneous decision after a link to the markets were shared on Coinbase’s internal messaging system. A Coinbase spokesperson also told Bloomberg that Armstrong’s remarks were “made in a lighthearted, offhand way, referencing online discussion around the earnings call.”
Coinbase employees cannot take part in prediction markets or any related activity involving the company according to its internal policies, the person added, meaning that neither Armstrong nor anyone else could benefit from the prediction markets pool.

lol this was fun – happened spontaneously when someone on our team dropped a link in the chat https://t.co/tQiV3B9jUj
— Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) October 31, 2025

What does this mean for prediction markets?
With Kalshi already engaging with the CFTC around regulation, the offhand comment is indicative of where there’s a gap in protecting prediction markets from being abused. Coinbase’s own policy is helpful here, but down the line more official regulations could be required.
Readwrite has reached out to Kalshi and Polymarket for comment.
Featured image: TechCrunch / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Google has reclassified sweepstakes casino games from being social games, resulting in new mandatory rules.
Sweepstakes casinos are no longer deemed as “social games” by the tech giant, leading to strict new guidelines that must be followed by operators. While social online casino games are still allowed, any games that offer prizes that have real-world value now need to follow similar rules as online gambling sites.
Specifically, in order to receive and retain Google Ads certification, operators must include a disclaimer that they are only intended for users over legal gambling age, cannot target minors with advertising, hold a valid local license in keeping with laws in the target country, include statements that they aren’t offering or promoting real money gambling and are not providing prizes of real-world value, and disclose any requirement of in-app or on-site purchases.
Ads, sites, or apps also cannot use logos, names, or any related branding associated with real-money gambling operators or companies.
Guidelines outlining what types of social casino game promotions are allowed and prohibited. Credit: Google
“We take violations of this category very seriously and consider them egregious,” wrote Google in the updated guidelines. “If we find violations of this Social casino games policy, we will suspend your Google Ads accounts upon detection and without prior warning, and you will not be allowed to advertise with us again.”
Google’s move marks the latest obstacle for sweepstakes casinos
This is the latest blow to the sweepstakes industry, after more than five lawsuits were levelled against sweepstakes operators within 48 hours and there is pressure from tribal gaming operators to limit sweepstakes operations in California.

Excuse me while I dance on the freshly dug grave of sweepstakes gambling. https://t.co/GNBWT7vTsw
— Victor Rocha (@VictorRocha1) November 1, 2025

Following the news, Indian Gaming Association Chairman Victor Rocha wrote on X: “Excuse me while I dance on the freshly dug grave of sweepstakes gambling.”
That said, some have said the move could affect those who use Google advertising. Alex Windsor from sweepstakes review site SweepKings told ReadWrite: “The decision from Google is likely to affect a lot of operators, especially those who use paid media through Google.
“It may ultimately also impact affiliates who are using Google PPC for traffic, affecting the amount of traffic and therefore potential users for sweepstakes sites.”
With Google being the ongoing giant in the digital landscape, the decision from the tech company will severely impact sweepstakes online casinos and how they operate digitally moving forward. It also marks an attitude shift that could bleed into physical spaces moving forward, with more regulation potentially on the horizon.
UPDATE: Comments from SweepKings added on November 3, 2025.
Featured image: Google / Canva
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Turkey’s Professional Football Disciplinary Board has issued months-long bans to more than a hundred referees and assistant referees after an internal investigation into betting by the Turkish Football Federation.
The decisions were made at the board’s meeting on Friday (October 31) under Article 57 of the country’s disciplinary rules, which deal with gambling offenses.
149 referees suspended in Turkish league football referee scandal
In total, 149 officials out of 152 from different levels of the game were suspended for periods ranging from eight to twelve months. The board said it looked at how serious each case was when deciding the length of each ban.
Which referees have been named in the Turkish football referee probe?
In the top tier, Egemen Artun and Yunus Dursun received ten month bans, while Mehmet Ali Ozer, Muhammed Selim Ozbek and Seyfettin Alper Yilmaz were each suspended for eight months.

2025-2026 SEZONUNDA OYNADIĞIMIZ
• Manisa FK 1–1 Alagöz Holding Iğdır FKOrta Hakem: Egemen Artun (2 Golümüz İptal)
• Alagöz Holding Iğdır FK 0–0 VansporOrta Hakem: Seyfettin Alper Yılmaz (1 Penaltımız İptal)
• Alagöz Holding Iğdır FK 1–1 BolusporYardımcı Hakem: Faruk… pic.twitter.com/o4TDKf3Hw6
— Alagöz Holding Iğdır Futbol Kulübü (@igdirFK) October 28, 2025

The investigation is still ongoing for Zorbay Kucuk and Melih Kurt, as well as lower tier referee Mertcan Tubay. The board also pointed out that the sanctions issued to Melih Eser and Osman Can Aciklar were approved by a majority vote. The decision includes more than one hundred lower division referees and assistants who received bans of eight, ten or twelve months. Under the disciplinary rules, suspensions longer than 45 days can lead to licence revocation, which means many of the officials could lose their places on the active referees list.
TFF President says punished referees will face further sanctions

Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu Yönetim Kurulu olarak göreve başladığımız günden bu yana, Türk futbolunun her alanında adil, şeffaf ve kararlı bir tutum sergilediğimizi birçok kez ifade ettik. Bu anlayıştan asla taviz vermedik, vermeyeceğiz.
Türk futbolunun itibarı, sahadaki emeğin…
— TFF (@TFF_Org) October 30, 2025

In a translated statement, TFF President Ibrahim Ethem Haciosmanoglu said the move is part of a wider effort to protect the integrity of the sport. He said the federation has acted “fairly, transparently and decisively” and that it will not compromise on those principles. He called refereeing “an honorable profession” and warned that anyone who damages that honor “will have no place in Turkish football,” no matter who supports them.

“The reputation of Turkish football is built on the sanctity of labor on the pitch and the unwavering integrity of justice. Any act that betrays these values ​​is not merely a violation of the rules, but a breach of trust.” – Ibrahim Ethem Haciosmanoglu, TFF President

He said the Ethics and Disciplinary Boards are looking into the issue in detail and that anyone whose penalties become final will face whatever sanctions the rules require. He added that the TFF’s fight against both legal and illegal betting will continue without hesitation and that the federation will fully cooperate with investigations by Public Prosecutor’s Offices.
While asking people not to politicize the process, he also called for support for the referees who are following the rules and still running matches, saying, “We stand firmly behind those who do their duty properly.”
Widespread betting activity
The disciplinary moves come after an internal audit the federation announced on October 27. That review found widespread betting activity among licensed referees, even in cases where they only had betting accounts, which is not allowed under FIFA and UEFA integrity rules. According to what was shared at the time, 152 referees were sent to the Professional Football Disciplinary Board for placing bets, including seven from the top tier.
Separate from the sports sanctions, Turkey’s Law No. 6222 sets out criminal penalties for actions that manipulate or interfere with sporting integrity. Prosecutors in Istanbul are also looking into the recent allegations as part of their own inquiries.
The PFDK bans take effect right away under the decision. The inquiries involving Kucuk, Kurt and Tubay are still ongoing. The TFF says league play will continue with officials who were not involved in the case, and it will support prosecutors as they look into whether any criminal issues are present.
Responding to the allegations, Fenerbahçe club president Sadettin Saran said he was pleased with the decision to take action against senior officials. He added: “At Fenerbahçe, we have always spoken about these things. Our position is being proven right. These are grave and shocking matters for Turkish football. It is encouraging that they are coming to light.”
Featured image: Canva
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