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A former police officer in South Yorkshire has been jailed for blackmailing a suspect to pay off gambling debts.
Marie Thompson, 29, has been jailed for three years and four months after an investigation by South Yorkshire Police’s Professional Standards Department (PSD), as detailed in a report from the police force. The former police constable was found guilt of blackmailing a suspect in one of her own cases.
In 2023, Thompson, who was working in Doncaster, anonymously reached out to a suspect she was investigating. She used a fake email account to attempt to force a £3,500 ($4,600) ransom from the suspect to keep the allegations against them quiet.
The suspect took the blackmail to the police, with the case then allocated to Thompson as it was thought to be connected to her ongoing investigation. Thompson recorded false notes that the suspect did not want to pursue further steps in the investigation.
Another anonymous email was sent by Thompson a few days later, under the subject line: “I’m so sorry.” The email said that the sender was desperate, apologized for the previous blackmail attempt, and promised to stop all contact. Suspicions were nonetheless raised against Thompson, leading to a PSD investigation and then her arrest in October 2023.
Thompson was still in her probation period with South Yorkshire Police and was immediately suspended upon her arrest. Further investigation from PSD found that the emails had been sent from her personal laptop and that Thompson was in “significant debt through gambling”, although the exact amount is not publicly known.
Police officer charged and sentenced
After pleading guilty at Leeds Crown Court on September 4, Thompson was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for blackmail and perverting the course of justice. She has also been served with a Regulation 13 notice, which deems her unfit to serve as a police officer.
“Thompson’s crimes are shameful and cast a shadow over the excellent work being delivered for our communities by policing colleagues driven by fairness, integrity and trust,” said Detective Constable Alexandra Furniss, the officer in charge of this case.
“There is no place in our force for police officers who fail to live and work by our values and standards. Our work to root out these individuals continues in our tireless bid to ensure our force builds and maintains the trust and confidence of the public.”
A similar story was reported last month in Australia’s New South Wales, where a police officer sold gold bars to fund his gambling debts.
Featured image: South Yorkshire Police
The post Former police officer jailed for blackmailing suspect to repay ‘significant’ gambling debts appeared first on ReadWrite.

Congressman Paul D. Tonko has sent letters to various major sports leagues, calling on them to support his federal gambling safety act.
As the world of sports betting continues to grapple with the knock-on effects of the NBA scandal, Congressman Paul D. Tonko has written letters to various major professional sports leagues, including the NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, MSL, and NWSL. The letters are addressed to the respective commissioners but have been made available for all to read, calling on the organization to support his Supporting Affordability and Fairness with Every Bet (SAFE Bet) Act.

It’s time for @NBA and other professional leagues to throw their weight behind minimum federal standards on sports gambling before this problem gets even further out of hand.
— Paul Tonko (@RepPaulTonko) October 23, 2025

The proposed act aims to implement federal gambling safety standards in a number of key areas. That includes requiring states to apply to the US Attorney General for permission to offer sports betting, implementing a nationwide ban on wagers like in-play betting and prop bets, and restrictions on advertising.
There are also customer protection measures, such as government mandates for affordability checks on bettors, a national self-exclusion list for problem gamblers, and a ban on allowing credit cards to be used in betting accounts.
The backdrop of the NBA scandal
While work on the SAFE Bet Act has been in the works for years, Tonko and supporters of the gambling safety proposal have highlighted the NBA scandal as an example of why it’s sorely needed.
“Claims of prioritizing integrity ring hollow when leagues have sold credibility to gambling operators, integrated betting content into broadcasts, normalized wagering for teenagers, glorified it in advertising, and then failed to prevent criminal conduct from taking hold within the sport,” the letters read.
“The stakes go far beyond the integrity of the sport; they encompass the very real human harm occurring across communities nationwide.
“The reliance on voluntary self-policing has failed. If the integrity of professional sports depends on federal law enforcement alone, the current system is already broken.”
When the new broke about the NBA scandal on October 23, Tonko took to Facebook to highlight the urgency of the SAFE Bet Act, writing: “Scandals like this are an inevitable consequence of the unchecked explosion of the sports betting industry. That’s why we need to pass my SAFE Bet Act – to address public health, protect competitive integrity, and give sports back to the American people.”
Readwrite has contacted Congressman Tonko for further comment.
Featured image: Office of Paul D. Tonko
The post Congressman Tonko calls on major sports leagues to support gambling safety after NBA scandal appeared first on ReadWrite.

A federal judge in Washington has ruled that the Department of the Interior (DOI) violated the due process rights of the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians when it suddenly took back the tribe’s gaming eligibility for a proposed casino project in Vallejo, California. However, Judge Trevor McFadden made clear that Scotts Valley can keep moving forward with the project even as the DOI continues reevaluating it.
Both Scotts Valley and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, one of the main opponents of the project, each called the ruling a win for their own side.
“This victory is about more than gaming. It’s about fairness, tribal sovereignty, and the fundamental right of our people to move forward in building a brighter future,” Scotts Valley Chairman Shawn Davis told Lake County News.

This story’s been updated with Scotts Valley response, and what is an unusual thing in courts, both sides are happy with outcome today. Scotts Valley is thrilled to get gaming eligibility back, however Yocha Dehe is happy with what judge said and that DOI will look into issue. https://t.co/kNCS6X7UrM
— Thomas Gase (@TgaseVTH) October 31, 2025

On the other side, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Chairman Anthony Roberts stated: “Today’s court decision correctly reaffirms the Department of the Interior’s decision to reevaluate this proposed casino, which would destroy irreparable cultural and ecological resources and has already been rejected three other times by the Department.”
The Scotts Valley Band Vallejo casino project plan
The ruling comes as tensions grow between the Scotts Valley Band and several nearby tribes. The tribes argue that the Vallejo property doesn’t qualify as restored lands under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) and that a new casino would put their own gaming operations at risk.
Scotts Valley is planning to build a $700 million, 400,000-square-foot casino complex. The proposal also includes 24 homes and an administrative building on a 128-acre site near I-80 and Highway 37 in Vallejo.

San Pablo City Council vote 12/9/2024 to send this letter to City of Vallejo demanding a full environmental review of the proposed Scotts Valley Casino Project:https://t.co/pX687KSB7wNot really about the environment.The new casino would compete against San Pablo Lytton Casino. pic.twitter.com/s4xr8lPxxo
— Kevin Dayton (@DaytonPubPolicy) December 7, 2024

However, in a detailed 35-page memorandum opinion reviewed by ReadWrite, the US District Court for the District of Columbia described the whole dispute as centered on “an agency’s reversal.” For almost ten years, the Scotts Valley Band had been pursuing a trust acquisition and gaming determination for the Vallejo site.
In January 2025, in the final days of former US President Joe Biden’s administration, the Department of Interior Secretary Doug Burgum approved the trust acquisition and said that “the Band may conduct gaming on the Vallejo Site once it is acquired in trust.” The department executed the trust deed that same day.
Less than eleven weeks later, after substantial outreach from neighboring tribes including the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and the Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Interior changed its position. In a March 27 letter, the agency informed Scotts Valley that “the Department [was] temporarily rescinding the Gaming Eligibility Determination for reconsideration” because “the Secretary [was] concerned that the Department did not consider additional evidence submitted after the 2022 Remand.”
The DOI also warned the tribe that “neither the Tribe nor any other entity or person should rely on the Gaming Eligibility Determination” while the agency re-examined the case.
The judge said that although the Interior Department’s choice to take another look at the issue wasn’t a final agency action and couldn’t be reviewed under the Administrative Procedure Act, the temporary rescission itself was final and could be challenged. The court rejected the tribe’s Administrative Procedure Act (APA) arguments, finding that the Interior’s move fit within its inherent authority and that the record didn’t show “improper political influence.”
Interior accused of violating Scotts Valley tribe’s rights
But the court also found that the Interior violated the Fifth Amendment because the tribe’s original gaming approval created a protected property interest. The judge wrote that the Band had “a legitimate claim of entitlement” to the January 10 gaming determination and that the Interior had given “too little process to rescind it.”
The Interior acknowledged that it didn’t give the tribe any advance notice before pulling back its approval. During that same time, the agency was holding several calls and meetings with neighboring tribes that opposed the project. The court said the one-sentence explanation the Interior offered left the Band “reduced to guessing what evidence can or should be submitted in response,” which wasn’t enough to meet basic due process standards.
The tribe said it relied on the January approval when it signed contracts and committed almost two million dollars to the project. The court pointed out that those reliance claims weren’t enough to win under the APA, but it also made clear that the due process violation didn’t depend on how much the tribe had spent.
The neighboring tribes, including Yocha Dehe, United Auburn, and Lytton Rancheria, have argued in separate suits that the DOI committed “legal error” in approving the Vallejo site in January.
In one email referenced in the opinion, a representative for Yocha Dehe urged the department that “if too much time passes, or if Scotts Valley starts breaking ground (or otherwise relies on the decision), there’s a real risk Interior might not be successful and or could be tied up in court.” The representative added that the tribes “had a legal challenge all teed up.”
Those suits remain pending.
The judge wrapped up his opinion by ruling that the Interior Department would get summary judgment on the APA claims, while Scotts Valley would win on its due process claim. This means the Interior can continue its reconsideration process, but it has to give the tribe proper procedural protections before it can undo the tribe’s gaming eligibility.
Scotts Valley has said the Vallejo casino project is vital for rebuilding the tribe’s government and economy, pointing to a business plan that projected annual revenues of $243.5 million. Because Interior’s rules require tribes to seek restored lands determinations within 25 years of federal recognition, the court noted that “this is the Band’s last chance.”
ReadWrite has reached out to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation for comment.
Featured image: Canva
The post Judge says Interior can review Scotts Valley tribe’s rights but Vallejo casino plans can proceed appeared first on ReadWrite.

Oakland Police Department has charged a suspected illegal casino manager with multiple felony charges.
An Dao, 44, has been charged with multiple felony counts following a high-speed chase that saw Oakland police follow him throughout the city. This came after a shooting related to an alleged illegal casino ring, managed by Dao.
Inmate records from Alameda County Sheriff’s Office show that Dao’s most recent arrest on October 2 was based on multiple charges, including but not limited to possession of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm by a felon, carrying a loaded firearm in a city, unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, and evading an officer. He is currently being held at Santa Rita Jail, with his bail amount set at $350,000.
The pretrial hearing is due to take place on November 7 at the Wiley Manuel Courthouse. The current charges come on the heels of previous felony charges after an arrest on September 29.
A high-speed chase in Oakland
While the jail log defines Dao’s profession as a landscaper, police authorities allege that Dao is the manager of a gambling shack on the 1300 block of East 15th Street. The location was raided on September 17, three days after a nonfatal shooting took place at a gambling den nearby. Allegedly, the shooter was in a BMW that police suspect belonged to Dao. He was identified as a person of interest in the shooting at that point, but was not charged, according to court records.
On September 29, police attempted to pull Dao over for driving without a front license plate, sparking a high-speed chase along East 12th Street until East 10th Street. A stun gun and body armor were found inside the BMW.
This comes after Oakland authorities believe there are links between dozens of nonfatal shootings in 2025 alone, suspected to be connected to rivalries between illegal gambling groups. Violent behavior has been linked to similar gambling networks across the US, including in San Diego and North Carolina.
Featured image: Oakland Police Department
The post Illegal casino operator charged with multiple felonies in Oakland after high-speed chase appeared first on ReadWrite.

Hard Rock Bet has announced slots-style sports betting options in Florida in a surprising (and controversial) move.
Named “Games – Powered by Past Motor Racing,” Hard Rock Bet has seemingly launched slots-style games in its Florida sports betting app, despite online casino gambling being illegal in the state. They claim outcomes are based on past race data, so not a traditional RNG-slot (random number generation), though the interface uses “spin” style visuals. The results are essentially based on historical racing events rather than an RNG.
Hard Rock Bet and Seminole Gaming currently have the exclusive rights to legal online sports betting. The company is now seemingly taking its lead from historical horse racing (HHR) machines, adapting the game convention to past motor sports races. It described the games as being “powered by Past Motor Races”.
To play, users will be given anonymized pre-race odds for a past real-life motor race, with any details about the location, date, or participants removed. They then need to guess the finishing order of the cars and are presented with a slots-style graphic to show whether they win – despite no RNG taking place.

pic.twitter.com/fn6igNTZeC
— tate (@TateJettas) October 29, 2025

It delivers all the bright colors and flashiness of slots, without any of the randomized features in the background that would make it an actual slot game.
Where is Hard Rock Bet legal?
Hard Rock Bet’s sports betting feature is currently available in: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. Hard Rock Digital launched its Hard Rock Bet platform in New Jersey back in August of 2023, before rolling out across different states in the US.
To this day, New Jersey is the only state where Hard Rock Bet operates online casino games alongside its sports betting options.
Is it legal in Florida?
Just a few months later, on December 7, 2023, Hard Rock Bet launched in Florida. It offers sports betting, becoming the only sportsbook operator in Florida outside of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
Florida officially approved betting on past sports events, as seen in this new game, as part of the 2021 gaming compact, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on May 25, 2021. The compact authorized wagering on past sporting events, as well as giving the Seminole Tribe of Florida a monopoly over sports betting in the state.
Is Hard Rock Bet offering sports betting or online casino gaming?
Despite appearing like a slot game, Hard Rock Bet continues to only offer sports betting in Florida, under the allowances given by the state authorities. The company leads with its legal authority to do so heavily on its website, naming itself “the only legal sportsbook in Florida”.
Hard Rock Bet offers same-game, prop, and flex parlays across NFL, NBA, MLB, MMA, soccer, golf, college and more.
ReadWrite has reached out to Hard Rock for comment.
Featured image: Hard Rock Bet
The post Where is Hard Rock Bet legal? Casino giant appears to launch ‘slot-style’ games in Florida appeared first on ReadWrite.