UK and US Move in Lockstep Against Gambling-Linked Scam Network

By Matt Speakman,
Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

Matt Speakman Betting Expert at online-gambling.com

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Last updated: November 3, 2025

The UK and the US have launched a coordinated strike against a transnational fraud network that investigators say hid behind casinos, luxury resorts, and crypto platforms.

Officials named senior figures with ties to Cambodia’s Prince Group and related businesses, and have issued sanctions, which cut off access to US and UK finance on 14–15 October 2025.

What the Action Targets

Authorities say the network used casino complexes and resort properties to shelter large-scale online investment and romance scams, while trafficked workers were forced to run the operations. The punishment package includes asset freezes and travel bans, alongside U.S. Treasury designations that sever ties to dollar clearing.

A Complex Web of Fraud

The Prince Group chairman Chen Zhi sits at the center of the allegations, with connected entities such as Jin Bei Group cited across multiple briefings. UK and U.S. statements describe a system that blended casino revenues with illicit flows and used shell companies to move money internationally.

UK officials flagged a string of high-value London holdings tied to the network. These include a luxury mansion in North London, a major City office building, and more than a dozen apartments in the capital city. The property angle matters because it shows how criminal proceeds can migrate from scam compounds into prime real estate.

Why Gambling is in the Frame

Casinos generate dense, fast cash flows and complex transactional trails. That mix creates cover for laundering and makes it harder for compliance teams to track origins with confidence.

By sanctioning gambling-adjacent companies, London and Washington aim to cut the networks that rinse dirty money and to warn operators with cross-border exposure that weak controls are now an expensive risk.

The UK’s Message is Unmistakable

The Foreign Office framed the approach as part of an organized effort to stop fraud before it reaches the UK. It also shuts doors to human-trafficking gangs because many of the workers in these compounds are trafficked.

The follow-through will be via information sharing, closer work with regulators, and tighter checks on licensees whose revenue footprints run through higher-risk regions.

Global Context Matters

Other regulators are closing the same gaps. Australia now requires identity checks to be completed before anyone can use an online wagering account, making it far harder for bad actors to slip through onboarding.

A useful reference is AUSTRAC’s mandatory pre-verification update, which shows how domestic rules can reinforce international sanctions by stopping illicit funds at the door.

Compliance Changes for Legitimate Operators

• Higher Due-Diligence Expectations: Decision makers should plan for more in-depth source-of-funds checks on counterparties. With high-risk markets like Cambodia, documents should be provided on request.
• Real Estate Risk Reviews: When partners or affiliates show property wealth that isn’t accounted for, compliance needs to document legitimate ownership and financing so there is a clear audit path.
• Extra Crypto Scrutiny: If suspects are linked to any named cryptocurrency companies, compliance needs to act fast. Risk assessments and tighter controls must be introduced to combat money laundering.

What Happens Next

U.S. prosecutors have paired sanctions with indictments to combat the fraud. In addition, authorities are not afraid to seize assets, such as cash, property, or Bitcoin. In fact, recently, $14bn worth of Bitcoin was seized in connection with the Prince Group.

The UK will likely mirror that posture through further listings and civil recovery. If more links to licensed operators emerge, expect stricter suitability tests and rapid supervisory engagement.

The bottom line? This is a clear reset. Gambling businesses that trade across borders must treat sanctions of risk like AML risk and show that every partner, property, and payment flow can be accounted for.