Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with the Gambling Commission on money laundering and bookmakers since the recent fine of the bookmaker William Hill.
Answered by John Glen
The Treasury frequently engages with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues, including in relation to anti-money laundering supervision. The Gambling Commission is a member of the Money Laundering Advisory Committee that is chaired by the Treasury and Home Office and was actively engaged during the process of drafting the most recent National Risk Assessment 2017.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Ministers and officials also have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Gambling Commission is taking to ensure bookmakers (a) check the source of betting money and (b) protect vulnerable customers.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
All gambling operators have duties to prevent money laundering under the Gambling Act 2005, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Any operators selling services into the British market must be licensed by the Commission, and the licence conditions require operators to assess the money laundering risks to their business and to have controls in place to mitigate them. Operators must also comply with social responsibility and customer interaction requirements to protect vulnerable people.
The Commission conducts suitability checks on the business, all persons relevant to the business and on key management personnel, and has powers to revoke or suspend licences, attach individual conditions to licences and/or impose a financial penalty in the case of failings. The Commission also has powers to launch criminal investigations and bring criminal proceedings against companies and individuals. The Government considers that these powers are sufficient to enforce bookmakers’ compliance with anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations.
In February 2018 a Gambling Commission investigation into William Hill resulted in a £6.2m penalty package for breaches of anti-money laundering and social responsibility regulations. As part of the regulatory settlement, the Gambling Commission has instructed William Hill to appoint external auditors to review its anti-money laundering and social responsibility measures, and to share learning with the wider industry.
In 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation, which is still ongoing, into online gambling companies’ compliance with consumer protection law. Information on this work can be found on the CMA website: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-gambling#case-launch. In February 2018 the CMA launched a merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by GVC Holdings plc of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc. Information on this investigation can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/gvc-holdings-ladbrokes-coral-group-merger-inquiry
As a matter of policy, the Gambling Commission does not provide information on ongoing investigations. The outcomes of the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work are published on its website.
The Gambling Commission will continue to take robust and effective action where gambling companies fail to meet their obligations. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of strengthening the powers of the Gambling Commission to respond to social responsibility failings in the gambling sector.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
All gambling operators have duties to prevent money laundering under the Gambling Act 2005, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Any operators selling services into the British market must be licensed by the Commission, and the licence conditions require operators to assess the money laundering risks to their business and to have controls in place to mitigate them. Operators must also comply with social responsibility and customer interaction requirements to protect vulnerable people.
The Commission conducts suitability checks on the business, all persons relevant to the business and on key management personnel, and has powers to revoke or suspend licences, attach individual conditions to licences and/or impose a financial penalty in the case of failings. The Commission also has powers to launch criminal investigations and bring criminal proceedings against companies and individuals. The Government considers that these powers are sufficient to enforce bookmakers’ compliance with anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations.
In February 2018 a Gambling Commission investigation into William Hill resulted in a £6.2m penalty package for breaches of anti-money laundering and social responsibility regulations. As part of the regulatory settlement, the Gambling Commission has instructed William Hill to appoint external auditors to review its anti-money laundering and social responsibility measures, and to share learning with the wider industry.
In 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation, which is still ongoing, into online gambling companies’ compliance with consumer protection law. Information on this work can be found on the CMA website: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-gambling#case-launch. In February 2018 the CMA launched a merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by GVC Holdings plc of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc. Information on this investigation can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/gvc-holdings-ladbrokes-coral-group-merger-inquiry
As a matter of policy, the Gambling Commission does not provide information on ongoing investigations. The outcomes of the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work are published on its website.
The Gambling Commission will continue to take robust and effective action where gambling companies fail to meet their obligations. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the number of ongoing investigations into bookmaker companies by the (a) Gambling Commission and (b) Competition and Markets Authority.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
All gambling operators have duties to prevent money laundering under the Gambling Act 2005, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Any operators selling services into the British market must be licensed by the Commission, and the licence conditions require operators to assess the money laundering risks to their business and to have controls in place to mitigate them. Operators must also comply with social responsibility and customer interaction requirements to protect vulnerable people.
The Commission conducts suitability checks on the business, all persons relevant to the business and on key management personnel, and has powers to revoke or suspend licences, attach individual conditions to licences and/or impose a financial penalty in the case of failings. The Commission also has powers to launch criminal investigations and bring criminal proceedings against companies and individuals. The Government considers that these powers are sufficient to enforce bookmakers’ compliance with anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations.
In February 2018 a Gambling Commission investigation into William Hill resulted in a £6.2m penalty package for breaches of anti-money laundering and social responsibility regulations. As part of the regulatory settlement, the Gambling Commission has instructed William Hill to appoint external auditors to review its anti-money laundering and social responsibility measures, and to share learning with the wider industry.
In 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation, which is still ongoing, into online gambling companies’ compliance with consumer protection law. Information on this work can be found on the CMA website: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-gambling#case-launch. In February 2018 the CMA launched a merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by GVC Holdings plc of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc. Information on this investigation can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/gvc-holdings-ladbrokes-coral-group-merger-inquiry
As a matter of policy, the Gambling Commission does not provide information on ongoing investigations. The outcomes of the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work are published on its website.
The Gambling Commission will continue to take robust and effective action where gambling companies fail to meet their obligations. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the Gambling Commission on social responsibility and money laundering compliance by bookmakers.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
All gambling operators have duties to prevent money laundering under the Gambling Act 2005, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Any operators selling services into the British market must be licensed by the Commission, and the licence conditions require operators to assess the money laundering risks to their business and to have controls in place to mitigate them. Operators must also comply with social responsibility and customer interaction requirements to protect vulnerable people.
The Commission conducts suitability checks on the business, all persons relevant to the business and on key management personnel, and has powers to revoke or suspend licences, attach individual conditions to licences and/or impose a financial penalty in the case of failings. The Commission also has powers to launch criminal investigations and bring criminal proceedings against companies and individuals. The Government considers that these powers are sufficient to enforce bookmakers’ compliance with anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations.
In February 2018 a Gambling Commission investigation into William Hill resulted in a £6.2m penalty package for breaches of anti-money laundering and social responsibility regulations. As part of the regulatory settlement, the Gambling Commission has instructed William Hill to appoint external auditors to review its anti-money laundering and social responsibility measures, and to share learning with the wider industry.
In 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation, which is still ongoing, into online gambling companies’ compliance with consumer protection law. Information on this work can be found on the CMA website: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-gambling#case-launch. In February 2018 the CMA launched a merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by GVC Holdings plc of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc. Information on this investigation can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/gvc-holdings-ladbrokes-coral-group-merger-inquiry
As a matter of policy, the Gambling Commission does not provide information on ongoing investigations. The outcomes of the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work are published on its website.
The Gambling Commission will continue to take robust and effective action where gambling companies fail to meet their obligations. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if he will ask the Gambling Commission to launch an investigation into the social responsibility and money laundering compliance by bookmakers as a result of the outcome of the Gambling Commission’s investigation into William Hill.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
All gambling operators have duties to prevent money laundering under the Gambling Act 2005, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Any operators selling services into the British market must be licensed by the Commission, and the licence conditions require operators to assess the money laundering risks to their business and to have controls in place to mitigate them. Operators must also comply with social responsibility and customer interaction requirements to protect vulnerable people.
The Commission conducts suitability checks on the business, all persons relevant to the business and on key management personnel, and has powers to revoke or suspend licences, attach individual conditions to licences and/or impose a financial penalty in the case of failings. The Commission also has powers to launch criminal investigations and bring criminal proceedings against companies and individuals. The Government considers that these powers are sufficient to enforce bookmakers’ compliance with anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations.
In February 2018 a Gambling Commission investigation into William Hill resulted in a £6.2m penalty package for breaches of anti-money laundering and social responsibility regulations. As part of the regulatory settlement, the Gambling Commission has instructed William Hill to appoint external auditors to review its anti-money laundering and social responsibility measures, and to share learning with the wider industry.
In 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation, which is still ongoing, into online gambling companies’ compliance with consumer protection law. Information on this work can be found on the CMA website: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-gambling#case-launch. In February 2018 the CMA launched a merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by GVC Holdings plc of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc. Information on this investigation can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/gvc-holdings-ladbrokes-coral-group-merger-inquiry
As a matter of policy, the Gambling Commission does not provide information on ongoing investigations. The outcomes of the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work are published on its website.
The Gambling Commission will continue to take robust and effective action where gambling companies fail to meet their obligations. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Neath and Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Gambling Commission is taking to ensure bookmakers do not breach anti-money laundering and social responsibility requirements.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
All gambling operators have duties to prevent money laundering under the Gambling Act 2005, Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, and the Gambling Commission’s Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice. Any operators selling services into the British market must be licensed by the Commission, and the licence conditions require operators to assess the money laundering risks to their business and to have controls in place to mitigate them. Operators must also comply with social responsibility and customer interaction requirements to protect vulnerable people.
The Commission conducts suitability checks on the business, all persons relevant to the business and on key management personnel, and has powers to revoke or suspend licences, attach individual conditions to licences and/or impose a financial penalty in the case of failings. The Commission also has powers to launch criminal investigations and bring criminal proceedings against companies and individuals. The Government considers that these powers are sufficient to enforce bookmakers’ compliance with anti-money laundering and social responsibility obligations.
In February 2018 a Gambling Commission investigation into William Hill resulted in a £6.2m penalty package for breaches of anti-money laundering and social responsibility regulations. As part of the regulatory settlement, the Gambling Commission has instructed William Hill to appoint external auditors to review its anti-money laundering and social responsibility measures, and to share learning with the wider industry.
In 2016 the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation, which is still ongoing, into online gambling companies’ compliance with consumer protection law. Information on this work can be found on the CMA website: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/online-gambling#case-launch. In February 2018 the CMA launched a merger investigation into the proposed acquisition by GVC Holdings plc of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc. Information on this investigation can be found at
https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/gvc-holdings-ladbrokes-coral-group-merger-inquiry
As a matter of policy, the Gambling Commission does not provide information on ongoing investigations. The outcomes of the Gambling Commission’s enforcement work are published on its website.
The Gambling Commission will continue to take robust and effective action where gambling companies fail to meet their obligations. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Gambling Commission on a range of issues.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what organisations are responsible for monitoring and enforcing anti-money laundering laws.
Answered by Steve Barclay
There are 25 Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisors in the UK. These include the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HM Revenue and Customs, the Gambling Commission and the 22 accountancy and legal professional bodies listed below:
These supervisors monitor and enforce compliance with AML legislation. This complements the work of law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency, the Serious Fraud Office and local police forces.
The government has reviewed the supervisory regime and is implementing reforms to strengthen it. These include creating a new team – the Office for Professional Body AML Supervision (OPBAS) – within the FCA to help, and ensure, professional bodies provide consistently high standards of supervision. OPBAS will also work across the regime, to facilitate high standards amongst statutory supervisors and strengthen supervisors’ collaboration with law enforcement.
Law enforcement agencies, the FCA, HM Revenue and Customs and the Gambling Commission are subject to the Freedom of Information Act whilst the 22 professional bodies named above are not. The government supports greater transparency to help build public confidence in our regime, and the 2017 Money Laundering Regulations require that all AML supervisors, including the 22 professional bodies, provide information to inform the Treasury’s Annual Supervision Report.
Asked by: Kelvin Hopkins (Independent - Luton North)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which organisations responsible for monitoring and enforcing anti-money laundering laws are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Answered by Steve Barclay
There are 25 Anti-Money Laundering (AML) supervisors in the UK. These include the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), HM Revenue and Customs, the Gambling Commission and the 22 accountancy and legal professional bodies listed below:
These supervisors monitor and enforce compliance with AML legislation. This complements the work of law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency, the Serious Fraud Office and local police forces.
The government has reviewed the supervisory regime and is implementing reforms to strengthen it. These include creating a new team – the Office for Professional Body AML Supervision (OPBAS) – within the FCA to help, and ensure, professional bodies provide consistently high standards of supervision. OPBAS will also work across the regime, to facilitate high standards amongst statutory supervisors and strengthen supervisors’ collaboration with law enforcement.
Law enforcement agencies, the FCA, HM Revenue and Customs and the Gambling Commission are subject to the Freedom of Information Act whilst the 22 professional bodies named above are not. The government supports greater transparency to help build public confidence in our regime, and the 2017 Money Laundering Regulations require that all AML supervisors, including the 22 professional bodies, provide information to inform the Treasury’s Annual Supervision Report.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make it her policy to introduce stricter obligations on betting shops to determine the financial capacity of people gambling large sums.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
The Government is clear that gambling operators must comply with Gambling Commission requirements around Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Social Responsibility in order to determine the financial capacity of individuals. If they fail to do so they risk sanctions including losing their licence to operate. These requirements include the need to deliver effective customer interactions, particularly in relation to 'high value' customers and those most vulnerable. Operators must also have due regard to Gambling Commission advice around 'Duties and responsibilities under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002' including the Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements which include knowing a customer's source of funds.