Intouch Games, the operator behind popular online casino websites such as bonusboss.co.uk, cashmo.co.uk, drslot.co.uk, jammymonkey.com, and slotfactory.com, has been slapped with a hefty £6.1 million fine by the UK Gambling Commission. The fine follows a failed gambling compliance assessment in March, which triggered an investigation into the operator’s social responsibility and anti-money laundering (AML) practices. This is the third time Intouch Games has faced penalties for breaching regulations, highlighting the need for significant improvements in its operations.
Failures in Social Responsibility:
The UK Gambling Commission identified several social responsibility failures during its assessment of Intouch Games. One notable failure was the operator’s delay in interacting with a customer flagged for erratic play patterns and extended periods of play, taking seven weeks to initiate contact. Additionally, Intouch Games accepted a customer’s income claim of £6,000 per month without verifying the information, despite the customer’s account being flagged due to excessive spending and gambling during unsociable hours. These shortcomings demonstrate a lack of proactive measures to address potential gambling-related harm and protect vulnerable players.
AML Deficiencies:
Intouch Games’ AML practices also came under scrutiny during the investigation. The operator failed to adequately assess the risk of customers being beneficiaries of life insurance policies or having links to high-risk jurisdictions. It also neglected to consider whether customers were politically exposed persons (PEPs), their family members, or known associates of PEPs in its money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessments. Furthermore, Intouch Games lacked comprehensive policies, procedures, and controls to address the risk factors identified during the investigation. These deficiencies highlight the operator’s failure to implement robust measures to mitigate the risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing.
Enforcement Action and Escalating Penalties:
Kay Roberts, Executive Director of Operations at the UK Gambling Commission, expressed disappointment at the lack of significant improvement by Intouch Games following its previous breaches. The £6.1 million fine serves as a clear indication that the Commission will escalate enforcement action when repeated failures occur. Roberts emphasized that all licensees must be acutely aware of the consequences of non-compliance. Intouch Games’ track record of breaching regulations, coupled with its failure to sufficiently address identified shortcomings, has led to this substantial penalty.
The £6.1 million fine imposed on Intouch Games by the UK Gambling Commission underscores the operator’s failure to meet social responsibility and AML requirements. The delayed customer interactions, acceptance of unverified income claims, and deficiencies in AML risk assessment demonstrate a lack of diligence in safeguarding players and preventing financial crime. As this is the third penalty imposed on Intouch Games, it is evident that significant improvements are needed to rectify the operator’s compliance practices. The enforcement action serves as a stark reminder to all licensees that the UK Gambling Commission will not hesitate to take strict measures against repeated failures, emphasizing the importance of robust regulatory compliance within the online gambling industry.