WHG (International) Limited
Account number
39225
Head office address
Suite 601/701 Europort, Europort Road,Gibraltar, GX11 1AA, Gibraltar
Regulatory actions
What is a settlement?
Following an investigation into a licence holder we may enter into a regulatory settlement. These take place, for example, where the licence holder has been open and transparent with us and has shown a willingness to suggest actions that prevent the need for a more formal sanction.
Decision date: 28 March 2023
Outcomes: Divestment, Payment in lieu of financial penalty, Public statement, Variation to apply conditions to licence and Commission costs
Details of action
This investigation followed a compliance assessment and resulted in the commencement of a section 116 regulatory review of WHG (International) Limited (the Licensee/WHG).
The regulatory review found failings in the Licensee’s processes which were aimed at safer gambling and preventing Money Laundering (ML).
Between May 2020 and 18 October 2021, WHG failed to comply with certain Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), specifically:
- licence condition 2.3.1 (Remote Technical Standards)
- paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of licence condition 12.1.1, requiring the conducting of an appropriate risk assessment, the implementation of appropriate policies and procedures and keeping such policies under review to ensure their effectiveness, all with the objective of preventing ML and Terrorist Financing (TF)
- licence condition 12.1.2 requiring remote casino operators based in foreign jurisdictions to comply with the ML, TF and Transfer of Funds (Information of the Payer) Regulations 2017.
- paragraphs 1 and 2 of Social Responsibility Code Provision (SRCP) 3.4.1, requiring licensees to interact with customers in a way which minimises the risk of customers experiencing harms associated with gambling, and to take into account the Commission’s guidance on customer interaction
- paragraphs 1a, 1c and 1d of SRCP 3.7.1 (Provision of Credit)
- paragraph 2 of SRCP 3.9.1 requiring licensees to put into effect policies and procedures designed to identify separate accounts which are held by the same individual and where customers hold more than one account, the Licensee must have and put into effect procedures which enable them to relate each of a customer’s such accounts to each other.
Taking into account remedial action taken by the Licensee and in line with our Statement of principles for licensing and regulation, the Licensee will voluntarily make a payment in lieu of a financial penalty of £12,500,000, which includes a divestment of £284,361.57, and will vary its licence to add additional licence conditions.
More information about this case can be found on the Commission's website, here: WHG (International) Limited Public Statement (gamblingcommission.gov.uk)
What is a sanction?
When a licence holder has not followed rules and regulations aimed at ensuring gambling is fair, safe and crime-free, we can take action and impose the following sanctions:
- Give the licensee a warning
- Add, remove, or amend a condition to the licence
- Suspend a licence
- Revoke a licence
- Impose a financial penalty
Decision date: 7 August 2025
Outcomes: Financial penalty
Details of action
Following an investigation into a key event submission by WHG (International) Limited outside of a licence review, the Gambling Commission found that WHG (International) (“the Licensee”) failed to comply with paragraph 3 of SRCP Condition 3.9.1 – Identification of individual customers – remote which requires the following:
"Licensees which are companies or other bodies corporate must take all reasonable steps to comply with the above provision as if reference to a customer holding more than one account with them included a reference to a customer holding one or more accounts with them and one or more accounts with a group company."
The failure to comply with an SRCP is a breach of a licence condition of by virtue of section 82(1) of the Act. The Commission will shortly issue an invoice in respect of the financial penalty which will become payable by the Licensee within 28 days. In line with the Commission’s Licensing, compliance and enforcement policy statement, the Indicative sanctions guidance and the Statement of principles for determining financial penalties, the Commission has decided to impose a financial penalty of £82,687 under section 121(1) of the Act. Commission Officials note that the Licensee self-identified the breach and proactively reported it to the Commission. Officials note the remedial action that was taken by the Licensee and acknowledge that the Licensee has co-operated with the Commission throughout the investigation.