Isle of Man gambling regulator consults on plans to introduce fines for key staff at operators
The change would make gambling operators’ individual employees liable for anti-money laundering (AML) or know-your-customer (KYC) breaches.
UK.- The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) has opened a consultation on the proposed Gambling Legislation (Amendment) Bill 2025. The reforms would put more responsibility on individuals at gambling operators, with the possibility of direct personal fines for managers and key staff who fail to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) or know-your-customer (KYC) obligations.
The plan would broaden civil penalties so they apply not only to licensed operators but also to employees. Sanctions could be imposed where breaches occur through “consent, connivance, or simple negligence.”
The new approach would place greater scrutiny on gaming operators’ directors, compliance officers and senior executives whose daily decisions shape anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing safeguards.
The regulator is seeking industry input before finalising the changes. Feedback will be accepted until May 25, with an online Q&A session planned to allow stakeholders to raise concerns and discuss the impact of personal liability.
The moves come after the GSC fined Shelgeyr Limited, the owner of Maverick Games, £200,000 in February after identifying serious shortcomings in customer due diligence, enhanced due diligence, and account monitoring. Officials said the failings reflected systemic weaknesses rather than isolated mistakes, reinforcing the need for stronger compliance tools.
Meanwhile, the GSC has heightened its assessment of the money laundering risks of the Isle of Man’s gambling industry. Its latest National Risk Assessment cites ongoing concerns about Southeast Asian criminal networks alongside other global challenges.
The regulator concluded that the Isle of Man’s gambling sector overall now carries a “medium high” risk for money laundering, up from “medium” five years ago. Online gambling was placed in the same category. The report comes after the GSC found gambling to be a medium-low risk for terrorist financing in its first standalone Terrorist Financing National Risk Assessment (TFNRA) last year.
