On December 2nd, the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) released some details regarding a new investigation into the operations of an online gambling company. The probe held by the country’s gambling regulatory body found that Greentube Alderney, which currently operates the online gambling platforms bellfruitcasino.com and admiralcasino.co.uk, has breached some anti-money laundering and social responsibility rules.
As a result, Greentube Alderney will be required to pay £685,000. Furthermore, an independent auditor will have to carry out additional checks for the online gambling operator’s aforementioned failures that occurred in the period from December 2019 to November 2020.
As the UKGC revealed in an official statement published on its website, the investigation found a number of failures of Greentube Alderney. The online gambling company failed to ensure customer interactions in a way that tackles the risk of gambling-related harm from being inflicted on players. It also failed to conduct adequate assessments of the risk of money laundering.
Greentube Alderney was found to have failed to alert the UK main gambling regulatory body for an event that could have significantly affected the nature or structure of its business. Furthermore, the gambling company failed to make sure it had and implemented appropriate procedures, policies and controls to prevent money laundering in line with the Commission’s rules and requirements.
UKGC Finds Several Licence Condition and Social Responsibility Code Provisions Breaches
The UK Gambling Commission reminded that licensed gambling companies that offer their services on the territory of the country have a legal duty to make sure they comply with the Gambling Act 2005 and their operating licence conditions. In addition, they are required to operate in accordance with a number of licensing objectives, such as to make sure their gambling services are conducted in a safe, fair and transparent manner; to prevent their gambling services from becoming a source of crime or disorder and to make sure they are not associated with a crime or disorder; and to protect underage individuals and other vulnerable people from facing gambling-related harm.
The investigation into the services of Greentube Alderney started on December 16th, 2020. As mentioned above, the online gambling operator was found to have breached a number of licence conditions and Social Responsibility Code rules:
The UK Gambling Commission and the online gambling company agreed on a regulatory settlement consisting of a £685,000 payment in lieu of a monetary fine that would be used to fund the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms. The company will also have to cover the investigation costs of the regulatory body that have been estimated at £8,790.
Greentube Alderney has also agreed to vary its operating permit so that a specific condition regarding a three-party audit is implemented within 12 months. The results of the independent investigators’ probe will have to be shared with the UKG. The company also agreed to the publication of an official statement of facts related to its case.
- Author
Olivia Cole
