Peter Hannibal, Chief Executive of the Gambling Business Group

Strategic body, the Gambling Business Group (GBG), whose members account for the majority of Gross Gaming Yield in the UK, is complying with a Freedom Of Information request which has been forwarded by HM Treasury. The request relates to the GBG’s response to the 4th Anti Money Laundering Directive consultation which it submitted in September 2016.

The GBG was at the forefront of the debate which resulted in the Treasury opting to maintain the status quo and exclude all gambling sectors from the 4th AMLD that were not already included. Peter Hannibal, Chief Executive of the GBG said: “As we write our submissions in the expectation that they will be made public we have no issue with this. However, whilst we were delighted with the Treasury’s conclusion it is interesting to now learn that someone is looking into the background to their decision to maintain the status quo with regard to regulated gambling sectors.”

He added: “We were happy to be able to assist the industry and in 2015 issued an open invitation to the Treasury to visit venues run by GBG member companies, to meet with staff and to witness at first hand the relationship which exists with customers. I was delighted the  key people at the Treasury and DCMS were able to take me up on the invitation and spend time in a number of Cashino AGCs, at Wimbledon Stadium, The Hippodrome Casino as well as the Beacon Bingo Club in Cricklewood. Seeing the industry at first hand, talking direct with operators and learning more about the systems and processes that are in place to detect any changes in behaviour or suspicious activities, certainly contributed positively to the debate.”