A City of Edinburgh Council‑branded website has been used to promote online casinos that claim to bypass gambling safeguards, a report has found.
The website, which previously promoted the council’s Neighbourhood Partnerships programme until 2019, was identified by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
It is understood the City of Edinburgh Council is now aware of the site and confirms it no longer owns the web address.
The website is believed to have been taken over by a third party in 2022, when it was used to advertise escort services under the same URL.
By late 2025, the site appeared to have reverted to its original council‑era design but contained links promoting online casinos which claim to bypass Gamstop, the UK’s national self‑exclusion scheme designed to help people control problem gambling.
Gamstop allows users to block themselves from accessing online gambling services for periods ranging from six months to five years. All licensed online gambling operators in the UK are required by the Gambling Commission to take part in the scheme.
Similar self‑exclusion measures also apply to bookmakers, land‑based casinos, arcades and bingo premises.
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Despite no longer being under council control, the website still displays branding associated with the Neighbourhood Partnerships programme, including logos for the City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland and NHS Lothian.
Links to the webpage reportedly still remain accessible from several sections of the council’s website, including community resources and library pages.
It is understood the council has now begun work to remove those links as quickly as possible.
The local authority now promotes its community partnership activity through a separate, updated website.
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