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A landmark report from the Bank for International Settlements argues that the accelerating transformation of digital finance requires regulators to adopt a consistent global approach in order to prevent illicit payment flows from exploiting weaknesses in the financial system. The study concludes that safeguarding financial integrity can no longer revolve solely around the traditional banking sector, particularly as innovations such as stablecoins and central bank digital curr

Lawmakers in Louisiana are preparing to consider a series of gambling-related policy proposals when the 2026 legislative session begins on March 9 in Baton Rouge. Several bills have already been pre-filed ahead of the session, which will bring together members of the Louisiana State Senate and the Louisiana House of Representatives next week. The proposals address multiple areas of gambling regulation, including sports betting markets, online sweepstakes casinos, the co

South Korea has formally moved to enforce a strict 20 percent ownership ceiling for digital asset exchanges, a policy change that will significantly reshape a market where leading platforms such as Bithumb and Gopax have historically been dominated by single controlling shareholders holding stakes well above 60 percent. The sweeping reform, led by the Financial Services Commission, is intended to dismantle concentrated ownership structures that have long complicated transpare

Economic analysts and international regulatory authorities have uncovered an enormous web of illicit financial activity totaling approximately $350 billion, tied to systematic sanctions evasion and transnational criminal enterprises. This hidden financial infrastructure increasingly relies on digital assets to circumvent the oversight mechanisms embedded in the traditional banking system, enabling hostile governments and organized crime networks to transfer large amounts of m

The Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) has published its latest review into how professional body supervisors oversee the legal and accountancy sectors, pointing to measurable improvements since its establishment in 2018 while warning that deep-rooted weaknesses in enforcement remain unresolved. Although supervisory standards have generally improved over the past several years, the regulator continues to express concern about inconsistent d

The true owners behind nearly 45,000 properties across Britain, with a combined value approaching £190 billion, remain concealed from public view in what experts warn could represent a widespread breach of recently introduced anti-money laundering legislation. The controversy stems from the Economic Crime Act, enacted in March 2022 in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The law required foreign owners of UK property to disclose the “beneficial owner” of any real es

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has renewed its warning that stablecoins are increasingly being used as a primary tool for illicit finance, stating that “stablecoins are the most popular virtual asset used in illicit transactions,” including by actors in Iran and North Korea. In a 42-page report released Tuesday, the global anti-money laundering watchdog called for tighter oversight of stablecoin issuers as the sector continues to expand rapidly. The warning builds on

The UK Gambling Commission is preparing to examine whether cryptoassets could be introduced as a payment method for licensed gambling operators, marking what officials describe as an exploratory but significant development in the regulator’s approach to innovation and consumer protection. Speaking at the Betting and Gaming Council’s annual general meeting, Tim Miller, Executive Director of the UK Gambling Commission, confirmed that the regulator will assess how cryptoassets

The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) is reinforcing Canada’s financial crime defenses by overseeing the implementation of mandatory beneficial ownership disclosure requirements aimed at dismantling the anonymity that often enables illicit funds to pass undetected through layered corporate structures. Establishing transparent regulatory standards that clearly identify the individuals who ultimately control legal entities has become a corne

Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, have carried out a sweeping judicial operation against a sophisticated transnational criminal organization accused of orchestrating large-scale financial crimes across Europe. The investigation led to the identification of twenty-three suspects who allegedly laundered approximately 900,000 euros generated through a combination of romance scams and fraudulent cryptocurrency investment schemes. The principal suspect is now subje

The Philippine government is considering a possible ban on Telegram as authorities intensify efforts to combat illegal online activities, including unauthorized gambling operations and sexual exploitation, that have allegedly proliferated on the messaging platform. According to a report by Manila Bulletin, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed that it is evaluating the option of blocking access to Telegram following reports that illicit

European law enforcement agencies have carried out a synchronized crackdown on the Camorra, targeting a sophisticated financial crime network tied to large-scale drug trafficking operations spanning the continent. The operation led to the identification of a high-value suspect accused of directing the flow of illicit funds through multiple European jurisdictions, notably France and Italy. Authorities seized luxury real estate assets exceeding 5 million euros in value, along w

The Guardia di Finanza in Ancona has broken up an extensive international money laundering apparatus accused of channeling an extraordinary 5 billion euros through sophisticated underground banking mechanisms. The sweeping operation resulted in seizure orders amounting to 1 billion euros and targeted a criminal infrastructure that provided illicit financial “cleaning” services to thousands of entrepreneurs. As part of the enforcement action, investigators confiscated assets a

The United States Department of the Treasury, acting through the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), has initiated measures to sever MBaer Merchant Bank AG from the U.S. financial system following the identification of the Swiss bank as a primary money laundering concern. Treasury officials found that MBaer facilitated the movement of over one hundred million dollars for illicit actors connected to Russia and Iran. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent emphasized

The Malaysian government is preparing new legislation aimed at curbing illegal gambling, with plans to grant expanded enforcement powers to police in response to growing concerns over both online and land-based betting activities. Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof confirmed that authorities are currently drafting the proposed law and intend to present it during the upcoming parliamentary session. “At the federal level, the government is drafting a law to address illega

The Rouse Avenue Court has fixed April 6 for consideration of a supplementary charge sheet filed in December 2025 against Robert Vadra in a money laundering case connected to alleged arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. During proceedings, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted that the newly filed supplementary prosecution complaint does not require a pre-cognizance notice, as the court had already taken cognizance of the original charge sheet in the matter. Special Judge Sushan

Industrialist Anil Ambani appeared at the headquarters of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Delhi on February 26 to record his statement in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation. Ambani arrived at around 11 am after being summoned for questioning in the case. His appearance follows the ED’s attachment of his Mumbai residence, ‘Abode’, located in Pali Hill, valued at Rs 3,716.83 crore. The property was attached under the provisions of the Prevention of Mo

The Financial Action Task Force has issued a major new paper drawing attention to the dramatic rise in fraud driven by rapid digital transformation, cautioning that cyber-enabled scams now represent a substantial share of criminal activity across multiple jurisdictions and pose serious risks to global financial stability. The international watchdog underscores that criminal groups are increasingly exploiting instant payment infrastructures and emerging technologies to transfe

Major leadership changes at the Federal Reserve this year could bring long-awaited relief to the US gaming industry, as investors and operators closely monitor who will succeed Jerome Powell when his term as chair ends in mid-May. There is intense speculation in Washington over Powell’s replacement, and the gaming sector is paying close attention to the transition at the central bank. The prevailing view among political and economic observers is that the next chair, possibl

Finland’s sweeping plans to reform its gambling system are facing mounting criticism from legal experts and harm prevention organisations, as discussions intensify under the consultation process led by the Gambling Harm Risk and Harm Assessment Group within the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Legal firm Nordic Law has strongly criticised the government’s position on artificial intelligence, arguing that the draft legislation fails to properly recognise the sophistica