SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Lindar Media Limited, the operator of online casino Mr Q, is facing regulatory action by the UK Gambling Commission and has been ordered to pay £690,947 for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures.
The regulatory action follows an investigation by the UKGC into Lindar Media, which found failings in the operator’s processes aimed at preventing money laundering and protecting individuals from being harmed or exploited by gambling.
The commission found failings in Lindar Media’s implementation of AML policies, procedures and controls, deficiencies in its responsible gambling policies, procedures, controls and practices, and weaknesses in its reporting arrangements in respect of key events.
According to the UKGC, Lindar Media had failed to have an appropriate money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment, as it had not adequately assessed risks relating to customers, means of payment, additional inherent risks and emerging risks operator control.
The operator also didn’t specifically address certain key risk factors as set out in the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and the commission’s Prevention of Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism February 2021.
The UKGC also said it was inappropriate for Lindar Media to have procedures in place which automatically assigned all customers with a low money laundering risk rating.
In addition, the operator had low enough financial thresholds that allowed a customer to deposit and lose £10,000, a figure which did not appear to be sufficiently risk-based. Some customers were also not prevented from depositing and losing £10,000 in a short period.
The commission added that Lindar Media has taken proactive steps to address this and the issue has now been rectified.
The operator was also deemed to have failed to advertise its marketing material in a socially responsible manner, as well as make an annual financial contribution to an organisation which supports research, prevention and treatment for those harmed by gambling.
It was also discovered by the UKGC that the person at Lindar Media responsible for the licensee’s gambling regulatory compliance function (Head of Regulatory Compliance) occupied other management posts without the commission’s approval.
As a result of the UKGC investigation, Lindar Media will pay £690,947 as part of a settlement with the commission, with all £690,947 going to socially responsible causes.
