The review started in 2018 when a person died by suicide after visiting the casino
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UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) review into Aspers Stratford City Casino has found player protection and anti-money laundering failures, the regulators said Thursday.
In December 2018, the UKGC started a review of Aspers Stratford’s operating license following the tragic episode of an individual who died by suicide after visiting the London casino.
The Commission’s review looked at compliance with regulatory requirements, identified weaknesses in the way that Aspers Stratford managed its anti-money laundering, social responsibility and customer interaction policies and processes which allowed the individual to make several unchecked cash purchases.
As a result, the UKGC said a warning has been issued to Aspers Stratford for breaches relating to anti-money laundering processes, failing to comply with customer interaction rules and breaching cash desk policy rules. Also, Aspers Stratford will have to undertake a follow-up independent audit of its policies and procedures within six months to ensure improvements are effective, with the further implementation of further recommendations if required.
In addition, a financial penalty of £652,500 has been imposed. Aspers Stratford will also divest itself of the gross gambling yield to the sum of £78,233 which it accumulated as a result of its failings.
Following an internal report, Aspers Stratford has since made a variety of changes to its anti-money laundering, social responsibility and customer interaction policies.
UKGC Chief Executive Neil McArthur said: “This was a tragic case and our thoughts remain with family. The circumstances of the death were investigated by both the police and the coroner. As the regulator, we examined the casino’s management of the individual and found failings around the company’s anti-money laundering, social responsibility and customer interaction procedures.”
“We will be watching their future conduct closely and this case highlights why all operators must not only have clear policies in place, but that they are up to date and implemented by staff who have the correct training to spot signs of gambling harm or unusual patterns of play,” McArthur concluded.
