The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) has recognized that, although licensees have a sound understanding of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulations, there are still significant gaps that need addressing to maintain a risk-based approach to financial threats.

This observation stems from the completion of a thematic review of Malta’s remote gambling sector by the MGA and the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU).

The purpose of the joint review was to evaluate the AML/CFT regulatory knowledge of licensed businesses, including the application of company policies and procedures by Money Laundering Reporting Officers (MLROs) and other executives of remote-licensed gambling operators.

The review involved 23 compliance examinations and placed particular emphasis on MLROs and employees responsible for AML/CFT compliance.

Interviews with MLROs revealed a solid grasp of essential protections and measures to prevent money laundering, such as ris..

The Ministry of Finance of Georgia has updated the ‘electronic registry of citizens’ to comply with upcoming changes to the Caucasus nation’s gambling laws.

Applied via an executive order from the Prime Minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, from 1 July 2024, the new laws of the ‘Code of Administrative Offences’ will come into force in Georgia, which involves a strict tightening of compliance rules across all gambling segments.

Georgia will enforce new gambling laws prohibiting all citizens under the age of 25 from participating in gambling activities (land-based and online).

The Code will further prohibit all government and public sector employees from gambling and those registered with criminal offenses by Georgian courts.

This initiative has been overseen by the Revenue Office of the Ministry of Finance, which updated the government’s ‘electronic registry’ as the central database that will monitor Georgian citizens’ activities with gambling.

As reported by SBCEurasia, the Ministry of ..

South Wales’ Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) has collaborated with the UKGC, HMRC and Cardiff City Council Licensing to issue seven warrants across Cardiff on reports of an illegal gambling den in Splott.

The warrants, issued on 28 February, saw the arrest of two males on suspicion of money laundering and breaches of the gambling act. After conducting a search of the Splott premises, authorities seized gambling-related paraphernalia, including six poker tables, a spinning prize wheel, as well as poker coins and chips.

“We are committed to tackling illegal gambling activity across the UK and will continue working closely with law enforcement and partner agencies to achieve this,” a statement issued by Tarian ROCU read.

The operation nicknamed ‘Henhouse’ was part of a wider effort to combat fraud, funded by the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) and organised in conjunction with several police forces and organised crime units across the UK.

Detective Sergeant Emma Br..

The NHS has reached an operating milestone in the support and development of the National Gambling Support Network (NGSN) by opening its fifteenth clinic in Sheffield.

The clinic opened this weekend, expanding dedicated NHS treatment support and recovery services for problem gambling in Yorkshire and the North of England.

Amid growing demand for services, the opening of the new clinic in Sheffield means that the NHS has now almost doubled the number of specialist clinics available within the space of a year in England.

The Sheffield facility sees the NHS expand its network of problem gambling clinics to 15, operating across England with specialist treatment centres located in London, Milton Keynes, Thurrock, Bristol, Derby, Liverpool, Blackpool, Preston, Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Telford.

NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard, said: “The opening of the new NHS gambling clinic is a significant milestone and amid record demand for help, it is tim..

London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been urged to fulfill his 2021 manifesto commitment and introduce a ban on all forms of gambling advertisements across the Transport for London (TfL) network.

The demand has been made by the London Assembly Health Committee (LAHC), which has highlighted the need for Londoners to understand the severity of the problem gambling issue in the capital.

The Health Committee’s motivation stems from concerns that “London’s rate of ‘problem gambling’ is almost double the average seen across Britain.”

The demand arises from a two-part investigation conducted by the LAHC, taking feedback from individuals with lived experience of gambling harms, key public health figures, and charities.

As a result, the LAHC has determined that “a correlation exists between exposure to gambling advertising and increased gambling participation, particularly among young people and those with gambling issues.”

However, the report cited recognised the need for more research into the ..

Kindred Group has published its combined Annual and Sustainability Report for the 2023 financial year.

Providing an introduction to the company and its strategy and key value creation drivers, Kindred detailed its focus on expanding its share in locally regulated markets under the leadership of CEO Nils Andén.

Emphasising the importance of navigating complex regulations to deliver compelling experiences to its customers, the CEO summarised: “The geopolitical situation across Europe and other parts of the world continues to bring unrest, and during this time we have remained focused and supported each other when needed.”

This strategy, Kindred explained, has not only enabled the firm to build further market share, but also to reinforce its commitment to providing a safe and secure gambling environment for customers.

“Kindred is an extremely successful growth story over the years, partly thanks to our ability to come together as a team, and we remain committed to our purpose of tra..