Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) CEO Grainne Hurst opened the annual Gambling Anti-Money Laundering Group (GAMLG) training event, emphasizing the importance of industry collaboration and highlighting the increasing threat posed by the illegal gambling black market.
First held in 2022, the event brings together key players from the regulated betting and gaming sector, alongside experts from the Gambling Commission, Treasury, UK Financial Intelligence Unit, and law enforcement, to explore solutions to challenges surrounding fraud, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF).
As an independent organization, GAMLG offers a crucial platform for the industry to exchange knowledge and improve standards in AML and CTF. The group is chaired by Keith Bristow, former Director General of the National Crime Agency.
Over 100 attendees gathered in central London for the event, where they heard from a range of keynote speakers working together with the industry to ensure a crime-free regulated betting and gaming sector.
The event featured contributions from John Pierce, Director of Enforcement and Intelligence at the Gambling Commission; Claire Wilson, Illicit Finance Technical Assistance Adviser, Supervision and Preventive Measures; Hala Najjar, Policy Advisor for the Economic Crime Strategy Unit at HM Treasury; John Leigh, Detective Inspector from the Regional Economic Crime Unit at West Midlands Police; as well as Beth Dale and Astrid Morrison from the UK Financial Intelligence Unit.
Grainne Hurst said in her opening speech:
"This is a shared challenge, and it requires a shared response, and GAMLG is the independent body by which we can, together, raise standards across our sector, and ensure we are fulfilling our responsibilities to keep regulated betting and gaming crime free.
As a sector, we should lead the way in making certain our products are not hijacked and misused by those engaged in illegal activity, activity that has no place in our sector, activity which undermines our laws and our society.
While we work hard in this space, as you will hear today, we are also acutely aware how black market gambling is already being used by those criminal elements to raise funds that support their illegal business empires. A recent study by the BGC found 1.5 million adults in Britain spend up to £4.3bn on the illegal gambling black market.
Even now, we are working together, in this very space, on a new AML Code, which we hope will drive up standards, while not compromising player safety."
Meanwhile, GAMLG Chair Keith Bristow said:
"GAMLG is a vital platform to share knowledge and raise standards so the sector can remain a leader in preventing money-laundering, fraud and terrorist financing.
The incredible turn out at this year's training event, and the stellar line up of speakers, shows how serious this sector is about keeping regulated betting and gaming crime free, and the level of constructive collaboration it has with the regulator, Government and law enforcement.
The professionalism and commitment of our members makes all the difference. That commitment remains strong, which is good news for the industry, its members, the police and public. Unfortunately, it's not such good news for organised crime and fraudsters.
Working together, I'm proud to say we are at the forefront of this work and will remain there."
Founded in 2016, GAMLG is an independent organization, though it receives support from the BGC and its members.
In line with the BGC's commitment to fostering knowledge sharing across the sector, tickets for this year's training day were made available to non-BGC members for the first time.
Grainne added:
"Raising standards is part of the DNA of the BGC, and I think one of the surest demonstrations of that, is on display today. Because for the first time, we have opened up this event, now a regular annual fixture for the sector, to non-BGC members.
"This was a very deliberate decision for us, because we recognize knowledge sharing, and understanding best practice, is the key to the unified response, I am sure, we all seek when it comes to keeping regulated betting and gaming crime free."
Casinos in the UK
Casinos are an important pillar of the regulated betting and gaming sector, and same goes for the leisure, tourism and hospitality sector.
In London alone, casinos contribute an additional £100 million to its economy.
The BGC represents more than 90% of the regulated betting and gaming sector in the UK, encompassing everything from bookmakers on struggling high streets to land-based casinos and major tech companies in online betting and gaming.
BGC members support 110,000 jobs and are proud to contribute £6.8 billion to the economy.
Every month, an estimate 22.5 million adults in Britain enjoy a bet - whether in the form of buying a lottery ticket, playing bingo, visiting a land-based casino, playing online, or placing a wager on horseracing, football and other sports; and most of them do so safely and responsibly.
On the other hand, the most recent NHS Health Survey for England estimated that 0.40% of the adult population are problem gamblers.
Source:
https://bettingandgamingcouncil.com/news/grainne-hurst-opens-gamlg
