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  1. Licensees and businesses
  2. AML
  3. Notices
  4. Casinos providing money service business activities
Guidance updates

Casinos providing money service business activities

09 February 2026

Casinos offering services to customers including acting as a cheque casher or currency exchange, accepting winners’ cheques and foreign currency, or transmitting money are considered to be providing Money Service Business (MSB) services under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (the MLR 2017). Under the MLR 2017, the Gambling Commission is the supervisory authority for casinos in the UK and HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the supervisory authority for MSBs. Pursuant to Regulation 7(2) of the MLR 2017, the Commission and HMRC have agreed that the Commission will act as the supervisory body for businesses operating as casinos, where such businesses also carry out incidental MSB activities.

The MLR 2017 requires HMRC to maintain a register of MSBs. Therefore, all casinos providing MSB services have to register with HMRC. On 8 January 2026, the Commission entered into a new agreement with HMRC under which the Commission will provide the necessary registration details directly to HMRC so that the licence holders this applies to do not have to apply directly to HMRC to be on the MSB register. Specific details will be shared with HMRC to facilitate registration of those operators providing MSB services. ., It is important to note that any casinos offering MSB activity which includes money remittance or any other payment service, as defined under Schedule 1 the Payment Services Regulations 2017 (PSR 2017) must also be authorised or registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (as required under the PSR 2017).

The Commission would like to bring the attention of licence holders providing MSB services to HMRC’s current guidance on meeting the requirements  Money laundering: understanding risks and taking action for money service businesses (opens in new tab) and the current guidance  Money service business guidance for money laundering supervision (opens in new tab). Licence holders are expected to follow the HMRC guidance.

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