Major Leeds Casino Loses Its Licence to Operate

by James Gibson, 5 November 2025

Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds has closed its doors after its gambling licence was suspended.

Leeds casino has closed due to licensing breaches. © Kvnga, Unsplash

Key Facts:

• The UKGC has suspended the licence of Victoria Gate Casino’s parent company
• The Leeds casino is therefore unable to operate legally
• The suspension happened because of governance concerns and compliance failings

Victoria Gate Casino, which is in Victoria Leeds Shopping Centre, opened in 2017 and was touted as a ‘super casino’. This was due to its 50,000 square feet of space and the large number of games and tables it offered.

The company that owns and operates the casino, VGC Leeds Limited, has recently had its licence suspended by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). This is due to concerns about governance and compliance failings.

While the licence has been immediately suspended, a formal review is being carried out to determine if VGC Leeds Limited is suitable to be a licence holder. This review is under section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005.

Reasons for the Suspension

The UKGC has revealed that the review was deemed necessary after a routine compliance assessment found that VGC Leeds Limited had failed to:

Maintain and implement effective anti-money laundering policies, procedures, and controls, as required under the conditions of their licence. – UKGC, UKGC Gives Reasons for VGC Leeds Limited Licence Suspension, World Casino Directory

The regulator mentioned in a press release that it had serious concerns about the quality of VGC Leeds Limited’s decision-making processes. The company’s handling of counter-terrorist financing (CTF) and anti-money laundering (AML) risks also raised concern.

The specific failings of VGC Leeds Limited posed a significant threat to the terms and conditions of the company’s gambling licence. They also got in the way of preventing criminal activity in gambling.

In conclusion, the UKGC highlighted that the company’s failings raised questions about the effectiveness of its risk management and governance systems. The regulator had no choice but to suspend the company’s licence with immediate effect.

Casino Closure

While the company’s review is underway, Victoria Gate Casino is unable to offer any sort of gambling activity. It’s currently closed to the public, with a printed notice explaining what has happened.

The notice implies that the licence suspension is only temporary. It also states that the company hopes to reopen Victoria Gate Casino and welcome players back soon, though it’s uncertain if or when this may happen.

The UKGC has clarified that while VGC Leeds Limited’s licence is suspended, it must keep its customers fully informed of the situation. It should also continue to treat them fairly and with respect.

A Previous Issue

In 2021, VGC Leeds Limited received a fine from the UKGC of £450,000. This was due to numerous AML and social responsibility failings. The licence suspension is a step up from the fine.

This is part of the UKGC’s plan to use licence suspension as a way of ensuring cooperation and compliance. The regulator wants all gambling licence holders to adhere to its licensing terms and conditions.

The review currently being carried out by the regulator is to determine whether VGC Leeds Limited is suitable to continue as a gambling operator. Victoria Gate Casino will stay closed until the review is complete.

If the regulator decides that VGC Leeds Limited can continue operating, the casino will reopen at a later date. If not, the casino may ultimately have to close for good.