Compliance Updates
UKGC Imposes £1.4M Fine on AG Communications Limited
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has imposed a fine of £1,407,834 on AG Communications Limited for Social Responsibility (SR) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) failures.
The operator, which trades as AspireGlobal and runs 58 websites, will pay the money to socially responsible causes as part of a settlement with the Commission.
Social responsibility failures included:
• not having effective systems in place to prevent customers spending significant amounts of money in a short period of time before an assessment was made as to whether the customer was potentially at risk of gambling related harm. This raised concern that velocity of spend was not identified or acted upon quickly enough
• failing to conduct a safer gambling interaction despite one customer losing £6000 in 48 hours. A telephone interaction was attempted but only when the daily loss limit of £5000 in 24 hours was reached
• one customer was able to deposit and lose £7000 in just over four hours in the early hours. This customer was able to play through the backstop in place at the time due to a system error which failed to prevent the customer from depositing above the backstop limit. A manual review of the customer did not identify the fact they had played through the backstop trigger
• one customer was able to open a significant number of gambling accounts despite the fact they had previously self-excluded.
Anti-money laundering failures included:
• AML/Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF) policies and procedures were too reliant on financial thresholds
• when customers hit a medium, medium/high or high ML risk score they were not subject to a manual Enhanced Customer Due Diligence (ECDD) check until a financial trigger was hit
• when financial thresholds were reached, there were delays in completing ECDD checks. One customer who reached the financial threshold did not have an ECDD review conducted until a week later
• not following its policy regarding ECDD checks. One customer who reached a financial threshold but did not have a high AML risk score, did not have a manual ECDD review until eight days later. This was contrary to AG Communications Limited’s policy.
This is the second time AG Communications Limited is facing regulatory action – in 2022 the operator paid £237,600 for AML failures.
John Pierce, Commission Director of Enforcement, said: “This case marks the second occasion that this operator has been subject to enforcement action. Its failure to uphold anti-money laundering standards, delays in necessary interventions, and deficiencies in social responsibility measures are wholly unacceptable.
“Today’s outcome underscores the gravity of these breaches. It is essential that operators not only implement and maintain robust anti-money laundering policies, procedures, and controls but also act swiftly and decisively in response to any indications of suspicious activity. Effective social responsibility measures must be in place at all times to ensure that consumers identified as at risk receive timely and appropriate intervention.
“This case stands as a clear warning to all operators that repeated regulatory failings will result in increasingly stringent enforcement action.”
The post UKGC Imposes £1.4M Fine on AG Communications Limited appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) has issued cease-and-desist orders to 11 illegal online gambling operators found to be targeting Michigan residents without proper state authorization. These unlicensed casinos—some based offshore, others operating from undisclosed or domestic locations—pose serious risks to consumers by skirting Michigan’s regulated gaming laws.
The casinos named in the enforcement action include the following:
Club Player Casino
7 Bets Casino
NinBet Casino
Cherry Jackpot Casino
PitBet
SlotsNBets
Bookmaker.eu
Wild Vegas Casino
VIP Slots Casino
Prism Casino
ABC Islands Casino
“These sites are operating illegally and without proper oversight, putting Michigan players at risk. We’re committed to shutting down unlicensed gambling operations and protecting the public from deceptive practices, unfair play, and financial harm,” said Henry Williams, Executive Director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
The named operators have been found to accept wagers from Michigan residents via a range of payment methods—including credit cards, digital wallets, and cryptocurrencies. Players may be subjected to questionable practices, such as the withholding of winnings, unrealistic wagering requirements, and denial of withdrawals.
In addition to financial concerns, these illegal operators are not required to follow the same rigorous data protection standards that are mandated in Michigan’s regulated market. As a result, players’ personal and financial information may be highly vulnerable when shared with these unlicensed platforms, increasing the risk of data breaches, identity theft, and other cybercrimes.
The MGCB has formally notified all 11 operators to immediately stop offering gambling services to Michigan residents. They have been given 14 days to comply. Continued violations may result in further enforcement, including collaboration with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to pursue legal action.
“This should serve as a strong warning to illegal operators: Michigan does not tolerate unauthorized gambling activity. We will continue our relentless pursuit of actively identifying and disrupting these operations,” Williams said.
“We want every patron in Michigan to have access to a fair and secure gambling experience. By eliminating illegal operators, we’re helping ensure the public can enjoy gaming without fear of fraud or abuse,” Williams added.
The post MGCB Targets 11 Illegal Online Casinos Operating Without Licenses appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Compliance Updates
Vlad-Cristian Soare Appointed as the New President of Romania’s Gambling Authority (ONJN)
Mr. Vlad-Cristian Soare has been appointed as the new President of the National Office for Gambling (ONJN), replacing Mr. Gheorghe Gabriel Gheorghe, who stepped down from the position at his own request.
A lawyer by profession, Mr. Vlad-Cristian Soare has significant experience in the gambling sector, having served as the General Director of the Romanian National Lottery from 2021 to 2022. He has also held the position of President of FEDBET – the Federation of Gambling Organizers – since November 2022. In addition, Mr. Soare is a university lecturer at the University of Bucharest.
Given his extensive background in the gambling industry, it is expected that Mr. Soare will make impactful and beneficial decisions in his new role as President of ONJN.
The post Vlad-Cristian Soare Appointed as the New President of Romania’s Gambling Authority (ONJN) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The award-winning crash game Aviatrix has received certification for Brazil’s online gaming market, ensuring full compliance in the market.
Aviatrix has been granted full Federal Certification to offer its games via licensed operators in the country. Meanwhile, Aviatrix has also acquired a dedicated certification for the state of Paraná.
This means Brazilian players can now enjoy the most innovative crash game on the market – one that has already gained a loyal following across Latin America.
Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “This is a huge milestone for Aviatrix. Brazil is one of the most exciting, newly-regulated markets in the world. There is massive demand for high-quality content, and that’s why we know Aviatrix is going to thrive. We’re looking forward to bringing the game to the country via some world-class partners. Get ready for takeoff.”
Aviatrix has been rapidly expanding in Latin America over recent months, including in Peru and Colombia.
The company was also named ‘Rising Star in Casino’ at last year’s SBC Awards Latinoamérica.
The post Aviatrix receives certifications in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
-
Baltics3 weeks agoPlayson powers ahead in Europe with Fenikss partnership
-
Africa4 weeks ago
Springbok Casino is Offering 25 Free Spins in Honour of South Africa’s Top 5 Wild Egg Hunters
-
Balkans3 weeks ago
CT Gaming Expands in Macedonia with a Landmark Installation
-
Latin America4 weeks ago
Paysecure expands reach across LATAM, showcasing solutions at SIGMA Americas
-
Amusnet4 weeks ago
Amusnet to Participate in the Third Edition of SiGMA Americas
-
Compliance Updates3 weeks ago
GRAI: Join the Ongoing Public Consultation
-
Central Europe4 weeks ago
Digitain Partners with Gamingtec to Expand Presence in Europe
-
Australia4 weeks ago
Betting provider fined $60,000 for illegal gambling ads
