CEN to Develop European Standard on Markers of Harm for Online Gambling

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has imposed a fine of £442,750 and given warning to TonyBet for failing to have fair and transparent terms, and for failing to follow social responsibility and anti-money laundering rules.

The operator – which operates tonybet.co.uk – will also have to undergo a third-party audit to assess whether it is effectively implementing anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility requirements.

Unfair terms published on TonyBet’s website included stating:

• TonyBet may request identification documents for “all withdrawals” while not having insisted on those same checks earlier in the business relationship, potentially hampering withdrawals but not deposits
• winnings could be confiscated where consumers failed to provide AML documentation within 30 days
• accounts are considered dormant after six months inactivity, when accounts can only be considered dormant after 12 months inactivity.

Social responsibility failures included failing to identify customers who may be at risk of experiencing harms associated with gambling, and failing to interact with customers who may be at risk of experiencing harms associated with gambling.

Anti-money laundering failures included failing to conduct adequate risk assessments of the business being used for money laundering and terrorist financing, and failing to ensure they have appropriate policies, procedures and controls to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.

Kay Roberts, Executive Director of Operations at UKGC, said: “Not only does this case illustrate our drive to clamp down on anti-money laundering and social responsibility failures, but also highlights action we will take against gambling businesses who fail to be fair and open with customers.”

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