Our approach to preventing money laundering
As the gambling supervisory body we have a duty to ensure adequate controls are in place to prevent casinos in this country being used for money laundering or terrorist funding.
All gambling operators have a responsibility to keep financial crime out of gambling, but non-remote and remote casinos have additional responsibilities under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (the Regulations) (opens in new tab).
Statement of principles
Our Statement of Principles for Licensing and Regulation sets out the principles which underpin the our approach to investigations and prosecutions.
These principles also include our approach to anti-money laundering.
Our role as the supervisory authority
As a supervisory authority we:
- provide information and guidance, including an assessment of the money laundering and terrorist financing risks in the British gambling industry
- provide a single point of contact for the exchange of anti-money laundering information and intelligence
- raise awareness of operators’ responsibilities under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (opens in new tab) (POCA) and the Regulations
- monitor suspicious activity report submissions and law enforcement activity
- undertake compliance assessments of operators’ understanding and application of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing risk-management controls
- produce risk assessments and profiles to assist in the planning of compliance assessments
- ensure our employees can take appropriate decisions on the suitability of anti-money laundering systems and controls
- ensure the integrity of the licensed gambling sector is not compromised by those seeking ownership or control of gambling businesses using criminal funds, or who would manage licensed gambling activity in a way that facilitates money laundering or terrorist financing.
Keeping you informed
We provide guidance and advice to help operators ensure they are complaint with relevant regulatory codes and legislation.
We also provide an assessment of the money laundering and terrorist financing risks in the British gambling industry, which is updated regularly and is intended to assist operators in the preparation of money laundering and terrorist risk assessments for their businesses.
Guidance
Our formal guidance, The prevention of money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism: Guidance for remote and non-remote casinos, is designed to help you understand what is expected, particularly in relation to taking a risk-based approach.
Adherence to our guidance is an ordinary code provision in the Licence conditions and codes of practice (opens in new tab).
Failure to comply may have an impact on your suitability to hold a licence.
Industry forums
We have set up forums for both the remote and non-remote casino industries.
These forums:
- identify and disseminate best practice
- ensure effective communication between the industry and the Commission
- support policy development in the field of anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing. The forums usually meet twice a year.
How we monitor and assess money laundering controls
We make use of a range of tools when assessing the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing controls of casinos.
How we assess controls
Questionnaires
We may ask you to complete request self-assessment questionnaires on their anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing procedures.
Information requests
We may request information, for example organisation charts, internal procedures, breaches logs, job descriptions of senior management and periodic returns.
Review of case files kept by casinos
We may analyse decisions made while implementing your anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing controls to assess whether those controls are adequate and effective.
Thematic work
We will sometimes seek to involve a number of casinos in a piece of work on a particular topic. This work may involve a number of the supervisory tools listed here.
Visits
We may visit your casino premises to meet senior management and examine documents and records.
Test purchasing
We may carry out test purchase exercises to check your casino’s processes and procedures.
Information from other sources
We assess information and alerts from other sources, such as law enforcement agencies, other supervisors, employees, other businesses or the public.
Investigation and enforcement powers
We have the power to make use of a range of investigation and enforcement tools when looking into suspected failures in the anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing controls of casinos. We may:
- inspect any part of the premises including gaming machines
- question any person on the premises
- inspect any written or electronic records
- demand a copy of an entry in a written or electronic records
- remove and retain anything reasonably believed to constitute or contain evidence of the committing of an offence under the Act, or the breach of a term or condition of a licence issued under the Act
- remove and retain anything reasonably believed to be used or having been used in the committing of an offence under the Act.
Regulatory action
We recognise that a risk-based approach is not a zero-failure regime. Therefore, failures in anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing controls will not automatically result in regulatory sanctions.
We will take robust action, in collaboration with law enforcement, against casino operators who demonstrate persistent or material breaches of the Regulations.
Supervisors like us have the power to impose effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for non-compliance with anti-money laundering and counter terrorist financing requirements.
Therefore, we are able to:
- commence a review into the manner in which a casino has carried on licensed activities and prepare a case for regulatory sanctions
- suspend or revoke an operating licence
- impose a financial penalty on the licence holder.
We have similar powers to review personal licences and to either suspend or revoke, or impose a financial penalty on the licence holder.
Last updated: 1 November 2021
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