Greentube Alderney, trading as Admiral Casino, has agreed to a £1 million settlement with the UK Gambling Commission after being found in breach of anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility regulations.
The penalty follows an investigation into activities on AdmiralCasino.co.uk between September 2022 and June 2023, where multiple failings were identified. The payment will fund socially responsible causes and comes in lieu of a financial penalty, as part of a settlement agreement.
Regulatory Breaches
The Gambling Commission found that Greentube violated two Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP):
- AML Controls: Breaches of Paragraph 3, Licence Condition 12.1.1.
- Customer Interaction Policies: Failures under Paragraphs 1 and 8, Social Responsibility Code Provision 3.4.3.
Key Failings
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Failures
- Delayed Scrutiny of Transactions: In one instance, a player’s bank statement showing over £100,000 in transactions was not reviewed until four months later, after the player exceeded a threshold.
- Recycled Winnings Policy Ignored: A user deposited over £70,000 following a large withdrawal without the required verification of their funds’ source.
- Risky Occupations Overlooked: A finance manager’s occupation, flagged as potentially higher-risk, was not assessed for additional scrutiny.
- Linked Accounts Unchecked: One user with connections to a previously blocked account due to criminal convictions was not investigated.
Social Responsibility Failings
- Unrealistic Spending Limits: Some users were permitted to gamble beyond their sustainable income levels.
- Inadequate KYC Processes: Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures were not consistently applied, despite staff training.
- Failure to Address Vulnerability Indicators: Indicators such as negative bank account balances and transactions with other operators were overlooked until significant deposits were made.
Repeat Offence and Regulatory Actions
This is not the first instance of compliance issues for Greentube. The operator previously paid £685,000 in 2021 for similar breaches. Despite improvements noted in a compliance assessment, the latest failings prompted the Commission to mandate an action plan to address all deficiencies.
John Pierce, the Gambling Commission’s director of enforcement, stated:
“While we noted significant improvements, further regulatory breaches were identified. Any operator found to repeatedly breach rules should anticipate stricter enforcement. Today’s action underscores the importance of upholding AML standards.”
Greentube’s Response
Greentube acknowledged the findings and outlined measures implemented to address shortcomings, including:
- Restructuring compliance and operational departments.
- Strengthening policies, processes, and training.
- Investing in enhanced tools to mitigate risks of money laundering and gambling harms.
In a statement, Greentube reaffirmed its commitment to compliance, emphasising that safer gambling remains a strategic priority.
