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MERKUR Casino Entertainment UK is set to acquire Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds after Leeds City Council approved the transfer of the venue’s large casino premises licence from VGC Leeds Ltd.
The licensing committee approved the transfer at its meeting on June 30 following an agreement between the two parties for MERKUR to purchase the business. Completion of the transaction is anticipated imminently.
Victoria Gate Casino opened in 2017 and is one of the UK’s largest casinos, occupying a 50,000sq ft site in Leeds city centre. The venue operates 24 hours a day and offers slot machines, table games, electronic roulette and live sports viewing.
The licence transfer marks a significant addition to MERKUR Casino Entertainment UK’s land-based portfolio. The Milton Keynes-based company is part of Germany’s MERKUR Group.
A report presented to councillors noted that the large casino licence is one of a limited number permitted under the UK’s Gambling Act 2005, with Leeds among a small group of local authorities authorised to issue such licences.
As part of the transfer, an existing agreement requiring the casino to contribute to local community initiatives through its Social Inclusion Fund will continue for a further two years.
The acquisition follows a challenging period for the venue under its previous ownership. In November 2025, the UK Gambling Commission suspended VGC Leeds Ltd’s operating licence after identifying significant failings in its anti-money laundering policies, procedures and controls, as well as concerns over governance and risk management.
The licence was reinstated later that month after the regulator confirmed the operator had taken significant action to strengthen its compliance procedures.
Victoria Gate Casino had also been subject to regulatory enforcement in 2021, when its then operator agreed to a £450,000 regulatory settlement following anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings identified by the Gambling Commission.
The transfer to MERKUR brings new ownership to one of the UK’s flagship regional casinos, with operations expected to continue uninterrupted following completion of the acquisition.
