Online gambling operators have long been under regulatory scrutiny for anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, but the recent £650,000 settlement involving NetBet Enterprises Limited has exposed how even reputable and established firms can fall short in protecting their platforms from criminal misuse. The enforcement action serves as a clear reminder of how weak risk assessments, inadequate transaction monitoring, and operational complacency can transform a legitimate busines

On October 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) released a Financial Trend Analysis (“FTA”) identifying approximately $9 billion of potential Iranian shadow banking activity in 2024, derived from reports submitted by U.S. financial institutions. FinCEN issues FTAs periodically to provide threat pattern and trend information based on Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) filings, pursuant to section 6206 of the Anti-Money Laundering

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) has announced its intention to proceed with the delisting of European Medium-Term Notes (EMTN) after the securities reached maturity and were fully repaid. The decision, according to the CSE, follows an official request made by the Ministry of Finance. The notes in question are the European Medium-Term Notes with an expiry date in 2025, carrying an interest rate of 4.25 per cent and identified by the code EMTN1125. The exchange confirmed that t

The abrupt suspension of the operating licence held by VGC Leeds Limited, which operates the Victoria Gate Casino in Leeds, by the Gambling Commission on 31 October 2025 has cast a sharp spotlight on the vulnerability of the gambling sector to money-laundering risk. The regulator’s use of section 116 of the Gambling Act 2005, alongside references to “effective anti-money laundering policies, procedures and controls,” underscores that even prominent bricks-and-mortar casino op

The Singapore Police Force has unveiled one of the most intricate transnational money-laundering operations in recent memory, targeting the Prince Holding Group led by Chen Zhi and his associates. The investigation exposed a sprawling financial network spanning multiple jurisdictions, with illicit proceeds traced from scam operations and forced-labor schemes into luxury assets and corporate holdings. Authorities describe the case as a benchmark for Singapore’s commitment to m

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has released its latest Anti-Money Laundering Annual Report at a pivotal moment for the United Kingdom’s financial crime framework. As the government moves to consolidate all professional body supervisors under the Financial Conduct Authority, the SRA has produced one of its most comprehensive accounts to date of the legal sector’s exposure to financial crime and its own regulatory responses. The 2024–25 report details the scale of th

The ongoing trial of Lafarge SA has emerged as one of the most consequential corporate terrorism-financing cases in recent European legal history. The French cement producer, now part of Holcim, is accused of paying several million euros to armed groups in Syria between 2012 and 2014 to maintain operations at its plant in Jalabiya. Prosecutors allege that these payments financed extremist organisations, including the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, converting routine busin

On the 4th of November, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released new guidance and best practices designed to accelerate international efforts to trace, seize, and recover criminal assets. The initiative comes in response to concerning figures from Interpol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which reveal that only a small fraction of illicit funds are ever confiscated. According to FATF assessments, over 80% of jurisdictions are currently perf

Kenya’s latest overhaul of its gambling taxation framework under the Finance Act 2025 is being hailed by legal and fiscal experts as a potential windfall for government coffers—but the new policy also shifts the cost burden onto casual bettors, setting the stage for notable behavioural shifts across the betting landscape. The new legislation, which came into effect in July, replaces the former 20% tax on net winnings with a 5% levy on every withdrawal made from any betting wa

The Isle of Man has reinforced its reputation as one of the world’s most tightly supervised gambling jurisdictions, with its latest AML/CFT guidance underscoring that reputation. Released in October 2025 by the Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC), the document targets online gambling licence holders operating under network permissions—a niche but high-risk corner of the e-gaming ecosystem where rapid transaction flows and opaque corporate structures often converge. The guid

Australia’s financial intelligence regulator, AUSTRAC, has intensified its crackdown on illicit cash-to-crypto operations, zeroing in on a key player whose compliance lapses expose growing vulnerabilities in the nation’s digital currency oversight. The enforcement action against Cryptolink Pty Ltd not only underscores AUSTRAC’s sharpened focus on crypto ATM operators but also highlights how traditional laundering techniques are being repurposed through emerging technologies.

The Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) has announced an extension to the compliance deadline for betting operators in Brazil regarding the recently introduced ban on betting among social welfare beneficiaries. Operators will now have an additional 30 days to fully adhere to the new restrictions, which were formally announced in late September. On 30 September, the SPA published Normative Ordinance No 2,217/2025 and Normative Instruction No 22, which completely prohibit bene

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has released its final draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) this week, introducing a detailed framework to define how financial institutions should assess the materiality of Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA) risk exposures arising from fair-valued securities financing transactions (SFTs). The newly published draft RTS lay out the specific conditions and criteria that banks and other financial institutions must apply to determine whet

In a landmark reform of its corporate tax framework, the Maltese government officially enacted the Final Income Tax Without Imputation Regulations on September 2, 2025, introducing a 15% elective final tax on company profits. The move marks one of the most significant overhauls of Malta’s business taxation system in recent years, offering what the government describes as a simpler and more transparent alternative to the long-standing imputation and refund model. From 35% to a

Genting Malaysia’s pursuit of a coveted New York casino license appears to be nearing success, with analysts at Maybank asserting that the company is “virtually assured” of securing approval — a development that could significantly reshape its earnings trajectory. New York state is preparing to issue up to three downstate commercial casino licenses before the end of the year. According to analysts, only three qualified bidders remain in contention, leading to expectations tha

The Cyprus Real Estate Development Association has expressed strong approval for the unanimous decision by the House of Representatives to pass new legislation establishing a framework for the regulation of foreign direct investments (FDI). The law signifies Cyprus’ full alignment with the European Union’s screening regulation, aimed at enhancing oversight of foreign investments that may impact national security. Under the new legal framework, Cyprus will introduce stricter c

The European Banking Authority’s 2025 response to the European Commission’s Call for Advice on six key Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) mandates reads as both a roadmap and a reality check. Released in October 2025, the report lays the technical foundation for the European Union’s new AML regime while quietly acknowledging the central challenge: AMLA’s operational capacity may not yet measure up to its sweeping mandate. Behind the EBA’s formal prose lies a pragmatic und

The global campaign against money laundering has entered a transformative phase with the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) 2025 revision of Recommendation 16, a sweeping update that marks the most significant overhaul of payment transparency rules in more than a decade. The restructured standard directly addresses the challenges brought by technological innovation across the financial system—ranging from instant payments and digital wallets to cross-border cash withdrawals

Uganda’s gaming industry is racing against time as operators have just two days left to renew their licences through the National Lotteries and Gaming Regulatory Board (NLGRB) e-licensing platform, in order to secure their 2026 operating rights and comply with national regulations. In an official announcement, the NLGRB reminded all licensed gaming operators of the fast-approaching deadline, stressing that “the renewal window closes on October 31, 2025, and any applications s

Italy’s online gambling operators have been given until 13 November 2025 to declare their principal domain names, following a new directive from the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), which enforces one of the key measures in the country’s reorganised online gambling framework. The instruction, issued through a circular from ADM’s Remote Gaming and Betting Office and signed by Antonio Giuliani, stipulates that all licensed operators must operate exclusively under a si