i heard the UK government is actually considering the exchanges as betting platforms.
You may be referring to a story a few weeks back where a Councillor suggested making trading in cryptocurrencies to be considered gambling, suggested in order to protect people from buying into things they know nothing about and losing all their savings on a dud project.
This will never pass anywhere close to government in the UK, not because it is inaccurate and not helpful, but because gambling profits in the UK are "untaxed" ....