Online casinos fined 14 million pounds in crackdown on guard dogs | Business

Three online casino companies were fined £ 14 million after the Gambling Commission, one of the most important law enforcement measures, revealed failures in systems designed to prevent money laundering and protect problem gamblers.

The regulator of the sector ordered Casumo to pay a fine of 5.85 million pounds, while Videoslots will pay 1 million pounds instead of a fine. Daub Alderney was fined £ 7.1m, previously announced.

A fourth company, CZ Holdings, waived its right to provide gambling services in the UK after the regulator opened a license review. Six other companies remain under investigation.

Three people have also been deprived of their license to sit on the board of gaming companies, four have received warnings and three are under investigation.

Together, the fines far exceed the heaviest penalty imposed by the regulator of the sector, namely a fine of 7.8 million pounds paid by the online casino company 888 after more than 7,000 people were arrested. being voluntarily excluded from the site were allowed to continue betting.

Jeremy Wright, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Departments, said: "Any online operator who thinks they can ignore their obligation to protect players should be aware of it today. this will have consequences. The protection of vulnerable consumers is our main concern, which must also be the priority of gambling operators.

"There are strict requirements for the protection of the actors and the prevention of money laundering, which all companies must adhere to if they wish to operate in the UK market. I am pleased to see that the Gaming Commission is taking the strongest action possible when companies do not fulfill their obligations. "

The commission has toughened its stance against gaming companies in recent years, imposing multi-million pound fines on companies such as William Hill, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power and SkyBet for failures in money laundering. money and problem gambling.

Commission Chief Executive Neil McArthur said that online casino operators should "sit back and be careful". "It's not enough to have policies and procedures in place. Everyone in a gaming company needs to understand its policies and procedures and take responsibility for applying them correctly, "he said.

"We expect operators to know their customers and ask the right questions to make sure they comply with their obligations to fight money laundering and social responsibility. Anyone in a position of authority should be aware that we will not only act against companies to take regulatory action – we will also hold individuals accountable when they are responsible for the failures of business. ;an operator. "