Compliance Updates
Danish Gambling Authority Issues Six Orders to Royal Casino Århus for AML Failures
On 14 June 2023, the Danish Gambling Authority Spillemyndigheden has given Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S six orders for breaching the rules on risk assessment of section 7(1) of the AML Act (order a), business procedures of section 8(1) of the AML Act (order b), supervision of section 8(1) of the AML Act (order c), training material of section 8(6) of the AML Act (order d), performance of customer due diligence procedures of section 11 of the AML Act (order e) and performance of enhanced customer due diligence measures for guests from high risk third countries (order f).
Order a is given because Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S has made an insufficient identification of customer types, including foreign PEPs and PEPs in international organisations and their family members and close associates. Moreover, identification and risk assessments have not been made of individuals subject to financial sanctions. When the risk assessment does not sufficiently describe the factors connected to their guests, the risk assessment does thereby not cover all areas of their business model.
Order a is also given because Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S has made an insufficient identification and risk assessment of the use of cash as a means of payment. Given that an inclusion of mitigating initiatives has been done too early, a correct assessment of this factor has not been made, which is why the inherent risks are not stated correctly. Thus, the risk assessment does not cover all areas of their business model.
Order b is given because Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S does not have sufficient written business procedures. The business procedures lack sufficient procedures for the performance of customer due diligence measures for high-risk customers, enhanced customer due diligence measures for PEPs and their family members and close associates and for the obligations to report.
Order c is given because Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S has not complied with their own business procedures for the performance of internal controls of procedures for customer due diligence measures, procedures for investigation and registering, procedures for reporting and procedures for record-keeping.
Order d is given because Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S does not have sufficient training material about enhanced customer due diligence measures for PEPs, prevention of financing of terrorism, and individuals subject to financial sanctions. The training material is, therefore, not sufficient to ensure that the employees have an adequate knowledge of the obligations of the AML Act in relation to Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S as a business.
Order e is given because Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S has not performed sufficient customer due diligence measures, as a customer had not been verified correctly in accordance with the requirements of section 11(2) of the AML Act.
Order f is given because Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S has not performed sufficient customer due diligence measures for guests from high-risk third countries given that information about the origin of the funds and the source of the customer’s assets have not been procured in relation to the requirements of section 17(1)(3) of the AML Act.
The Danish Gambling Authority notes that the rules on risk assessment, business procedures, training material and customer due diligence measures are fundamental parts of the Anti-Money Laundering Act. As a rule, breaches of the rules lead to an order or a reprimand or in serious or repeated cases, they are reported to the police.
The orders cause an obligation to act for Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus I/S, since they must submit an updated risk assessment, updated business procedures, updated controls, updated training material and updated procedures for customer due diligence measures addressing the insufficiencies identified in the orders.
The Danish Gambling Authority has given Royal Scandinavian Casino Århus a deadline of three months to correct the matters concerning the orders a-f.
Leading sportsbook goes live with full multi-product offering across key market
Altenar, a leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has obtained a B2B licence in Greece, expanding its outreach across another established European territory.
The company, which already has an office in Athens, has secured a licence from the Hellenic Gaming Commission, boosting Altenar’s presence in the country and adding a Greek licence to its already comprehensive portfolio.
Altenar’s expertise reaches more than 50 countries where gambling is legalised and the Greek licence, which is valid for seven years, paves the way for the company to offer its services in a new jurisdiction.
Since the introduction of the new regulatory framework, online betting in Greece has emerged as a success story, with the country undergoing robust growth, as market data shows tax revenues expected to reach €540,000,000 this year and the creation of numerous job opportunities.
Marina Zacharopoulou, Compliance Manager at Altenar, said: “The process of obtaining a licence for Altenar was rigorous, albeit familiar due to our experience with similar procedures in other jurisdictions. While we encountered typical challenges along the way, we navigated them smoothly.
“Achieving a Greek licence holds special significance for Altenar, as a considerable portion of our team is Greek, making it feel like a homecoming. Personally, I believe that Greece’s historical connection to games of chance, evident in the popularity of gambling in ancient times and the presence of deities like Tyche, adds cultural resonance to our licensure.
“Securing our presence in Greece through licensure not only demonstrates our commitment to regulatory compliance but also positions us to capitalise on the country’s expanding market.”
The post Altenar celebrates Greek licence in landmark moment for business appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Novibet, a global leader in online betting, has announced that it has selected FullCircl’s identity solutions platform, W2, as its new digital compliance partner. The partnership will help Novibet meet regulatory compliance requirements and ensure its customers gamble in a safe and secure environment.
The solution W2 has designed for Novibet strikes the perfect balance between compliance and customer engagement. A suite of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) solutions provides the bookmaker with access to global sanctions, Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), and watchlist data from key jurisdictions across South America, North America, and the EU, through a single API access point. Screening millions of records per month for Novibet prevents money laundering at initial onboarding stage, through ongoing monitoring, and at point of transaction. This ensures a swift journey for Novibet’s ever-growing customer base, whilst protecting its reputation.
Giannis Papastamou, Head of Customer Compliance & Group MLRO at Novibet, said: “W2 came highly recommended by DTI Solutions, a leading cyber security integrator to the gambling industry. This collaboration underscores our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance and ongoing player protection while delivering a seamless and secure gaming experience for our customers. Based on what we’ve seen so far, we’re already keen to explore ways to integrate more of the W2 product suite into our platform.”
Jess Whitehouse, Head of Customer Success, Identity Solutions at FullCircl commented: “We are delighted that Novibet has selected W2 by FullCircl. We’re providing them with a best practice approach to gambling compliance, including non-intrusive identity verification checks that balance the need for customer due diligence (CDD) with frictionless onboarding and superior player experience. I would also like to thank our trusted partner DTI for their role in bringing this partnership to fruition.”
The post Novibet Announces Digital Compliance Partnership with W2 by FullCircl appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The PGA of America is partnering with the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Have A Game Plan.® Bet Responsibly. public service campaign to promote responsible sports wagering.
Announced ahead of the 2024 PGA Championship—May 16-19 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, KY—the partnership will feature co-branded responsible gaming content, educational materials and strategic activations across PGA of America’s digital and social platforms.
“As the PGA of America welcomes ESPN BET as the Official Sports Betting Sponsor of the 106th PGA Championship, it is core to our values to ensure golf fans have the right tools in their bag to bet responsibly,” said PGA of America Chief Commercial Officer Jeff Price. “Activating AGA’s Have A Game Plan campaign during this year’s PGA Championship and beyond will be an integral part of our strategy as interest in golf wagering grows.”
Launched in 2019, Have A Game Plan brings legal gaming operators, sports teams, leagues, media companies and other organizations together around a common consumer education message, focusing on the core principles of responsible wagering:
- Set a budget and stick to it.
- Keep it social—sports betting is a form of entertainment for adults.
- Know the odds.
- Play with legal, regulated operators.
“We look forward to our partnership with the PGA of America amplifying Have A Game Plan’s principles with golf enthusiasts and bettors across the country,” said AGA Senior Vice President of Strategic Communications Joe Maloney. “Together, we’re driving the message home: set a budget, stick to it, and wager responsibly.”
Other league Have A Game Plan partners include the MLB, NASCAR, NBA, PGA TOUR, NHL and WNBA. For more information about the Have A Game Plan initiative and resources on responsible gambling, visit HaveAGamePlan.org.
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