The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has handed out fines totaling £7.1m ($8.7m) to 32Red and Platinum Gaming, both of which are part of the Kindred Group. Their violations related to anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility processes.
32Red Limited was specifically issued a £4.2m ($5.2m) fine, while Platinum Gaming Limited, which operates the Unibet brand in the UK market, was fined £2.9m ($3.6m). Both were given an official warning in addition to the financial penalty following a UKGC investigation.
Some of the social responsibility failures included insufficient controls to identify and protect potential problem gamblers, as well as subpar customer interactions. Platinum Gaming also failed to stop people who were self-excluded or blocked on 32Red from setting up a Unibet account. Both operators were found to have extensive AML failings.
failed to minimize risks of users experiencing gambling harm
Speaking about the penalties, UKGC executive director Kay Roberts said that the two operators failed to minimize risks of users experiencing gambling harm and that the UKGC’s “policies and procedures were overlooked, both around customer accounts and anti-money laundering practices.” Roberts wants the penalties to act as an example to other licensees on how they should protect users.