NEWS
12 October 2022
GGPoker fined £672,000 by the Gambling Commission
By Matthew Nicholson

The Commission found that the operator had failed to identify customers at risk of experiencing harmful gambling – while also failing to interact with those at risk of gambling-related harm.

The brand additionally sent out marketing emails to 125 customers who were on the self-exclusion list.

Furthermore, the Commission revealed that GGPoker’s anti-money laundering failures included: failing to conduct adequate risk assessments of a business being used for money laundering and terrorist financing, while also failing to have the correct procedures and controls in place to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.

Alongside the fine, the company will get an official warning from the regulator.

It’s been a busy time for the Gambling Commission: it fined Betfred £2.87m last month for similar failures.

Leanne Oxley, Gambling Commission Director of Enforcement and Intelligence, said of Betfred’s failings: “This is a further example of us taking action to investigate and sanction alarming failures.

“We expect this gambling business and all other licensees to review this case and look closely to see if they need to make further improvements to demonstrate active compliance. Where standards do not improve, tougher enforcement will follow.”

Meanwhile, Entain and the Commission came to an agreement for Entain to pay £17m, the largest fee ever paid by an operator in the UK, following issues found by the regulator.

Gambling Commission CEO Andrew Rhodes said of the record fee: “Our investigation revealed serious failures that have resulted in the largest enforcement outcome to date."