Caesars UK spanked for AML lapses; SkyCity ordered to hand over high roller records

The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has fined casino operator Caesars Entertainment £845k for lapses in its anti-money laundering (AML) protocols.

In a notice posted to its website on Wednesday, the UKGC said it had identified “a number of serious weaknesses” at two casinos owned and operated by Caesars’ UK division: the Playboy Club London and London Clubs LSQ.

Specifically, Caesars UK failed to: appropriately assess the risks of dealing with certain customers; conduct sufficiently rigorous due diligence; understand the source(s) of a customer’s wealth and keep adequate records detailing the company’s decision making process.

Caesars UK was also found to be overly reliant on checks made by Caesars’ international divisions, regardless of whether those jurisdictions’ AML requirements matched those demanded by the UKGC.