UK Records Broken
The gambling industry found itself under a microscope throughout 2023, with new markets opening, new regulatory bills being published, and increased collective responsibility within the industry coming to the forefront. As a result, the industry saw a record number of fines handed out, with $442.6 million (€402 million/£347.7 million) being dished out to operators.
The UK gambling market underwent one of the biggest changes in 2023, with the long-awaited publication of the Gaming Act White Paper signalling major changes for the industry going forward.
The UK Gambling Commission collected a total of £214.2 million in fines. The biggest of these was the record-breaking £19.2 million fine that was handed out to the William Hill Group in March. This followed an investigation that highlighted a string of anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings. The fines were handed out to three of the company’s businesses, Mr Green Limited, William Hill Organisation Limited, and WHG International Limited.
Other Leading Markets
It was not just the UK that saw a clampdown on gambling regulations in 2023. Australia also reported a record-breaking number of fines. It collected AU$457.6 million in fines throughout the year, including a record AU$450m handed out to Crownd Resorts. This was a result of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism failings. This was the largest fine ever paid by a gambling operator.
Ontario, the first province to open in Canada, also posted record numbers in its second year of business. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the regulator in charge of the market, handed out seven fines.
In the United States, the fines were relatively small, with just $1.6m being paid up. The largest of these was a $400,000 fine collected from Monarch Casino & Resort in Nevada.
The Dutch market, which has earned a reputation for being one of the strictest, issued €23.7 million in fines, with the biggest of these being a €6,794,000 fine issued to Goldwin Limited for operating without a license. The Greek market also boasted record figures, collecting €24.5 million.
