UKGC Fines Maple International Ventures for AML, Social Responsibility Failings

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The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has fined Maple International Ventures, operator of the casino and betting website Lottomart.com, after an investigation found failings in anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility controls. 

The operator is required to pay £360,000 ($491,000), which the UKGC says will go toward socially responsible causes.

UKGC Director of Enforcement John Pierce said: 

The cornerstone of every licensed business must be the proper implementation of effective policies and procedures aimed at making gambling crime-free and safer… We would advise all operators to read the Maple International Ventures public statement and consider whether their own policies and procedures are both effective and are being successfully implemented.

The regulator’s investigation found that the operator had not conducted adequate risk assessment from June 2023 to July 2024, omitting key risks like mule accounts, lacking sufficient detail, and lacking evidence that risk assessment protocols had been kept up to date.

Between May and October 2024, the operator also violated AML licence conditions. Violations included weak detection of linked and duplicate accounts, with one player able to swap their first name and surname to evade automated controls, making substantial deposits and losses before detection. 

Slow risk-response times and social responsibility shortcomings were also cited as issues. Maple’s systems failed to reliably monitor customer behavior for signs of gambling harm. For example, one customer was able to open a second account and make high deposits before being caught.

The settlement includes a divestment of £50,000 ($68,000) and payment toward the UKGC’s investigation costs.