The crackdown on UK online gambling companies operating without “effective standards” has resulted in fines of nearly £14 million ($17 million) for three online casinos, while a fourth firm has to cease operating in the country.
On Thursday, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) said the three companies—Daub Alderney, Casumo, and Videoslots—failed “to put in place effective safeguards to prevent money laundering and keep consumers safe from gambling-related harm.” Daub Alderney was ordered to pony up £7.1 million ($9.06 million), while Casumo has to pay £5.85 million ($7.4 million) and Videoslots would pay £1 million ($1.28 million) in lieu of financial penalty.
The fourth company, CZ Holdings, surrendered its license to the gambling regulator following the review. The UKGC also issued Advice of Conduct letters to nine other operators, while a further six remain under investigation.
The review, which started in February as part of the regulator’s probe into how the gambling industry addresses problem gambling and money laundering, found that Videoslots only conducted basic checks on customers who reached €2,000 ($2,278) deposit level within a 24-hour period—an inadequate approach “as it means that the same approach is adopted for all customers irrespective of the level of risk attributed to the customer,” according to the UKGC.