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Compliance Updates

GCB Requirements for Compliance Officer Based on NOIS/NORUT

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Introduction

The GCB provides these guidelines for the role of a Compliance Officer which is a statutory requirement for Curacao companies under the National Ordinance on the Identification of Clients when Rendering Services (NOIS) and the National Ordinance on the Reporting of Unusual Transactions (NORUT) as part of the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing.

 

Fit and Proper Requirements

The GCB aims to license operators that maintain integrity in their operations, which includes an effective compliance function. The individual acting as a Compliance Officer must demonstrate professional experience, competence and integrity. This entails specific requirements for those authorized by the GCB to serve as a Compliance Officer for a gaming operator.

 

Suitability

As part of the fit and proper process of the Compliance Officer, the operator must submit a comprehensive Personal History Disclosure Form to the GCB, along with all necessary supporting documents, including a CV, to enable the GCB to conduct thorough due diligence. The due diligence process may include, but not limited to, an assessment of the Compliance Officer’s:

  • Personal and Professional History: Assessment of the individual’s background and experience, including any past legal or regulatory issues, to ensure no history of criminal activity, regulatory violations, or other conduct that would raise concerns about their suitability for the role.
  • Reputation: Verification of the individual’s reputation through reference checks and, where applicable, consultation with relevant regulatory or industry bodies.

 

Competence

The operator must provide a detailed CV of the Compliance Officer, detailing their experience and education levels.

To qualify for the role, the Compliance Officer should meet one of the following criteria:

 

  • Education and Experience: At least two years of experience in Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) compliance in a reporting role, along with a bachelor’s degree or a relevant AML certification. Recognized certifications in Curaçao include the CAMS certification from the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) and the AMLFC certification from the AML Foundation & Compliance Institute. Other comparable certifications may be accepted, subject to approval by the GCB.

OR

  • Experience Only: At least four years of experience in AML/CFT compliance in a reporting role.

Additionally, individuals with at least two years of experience in a Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) role, or equivalent, in other jurisdictions are qualified to serve as a Compliance Officer according to NOIS/NORUT.

The Compliance Officer must demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development by investing at least 10 hours annually in AML-related training. This may include industry-specific training and workshops offered by the GCB.

The Compliance Officer should have knowledge of Curaçao laws, including NOIS and NORUT, as well as AML regulations issued by the GCB. Familiarity with screening against EU and OFAC sanctions lists is also required.

 

  1. Scope of Responsibilities

The operator must formally designate a senior officer at the management level as responsible for detecting and deterring money laundering and terrorist financing. This AML/CFT Compliance Officer should have timely access to customer identification data, Customer Due Diligence (CDD) information, transaction records, and other relevant data, and must be able to act independently.

 

The Compliance Officer is responsible for:

  • Designing and implementing the AML program.
  • Ensuring compliance with Curaçao laws and regulations regarding money laundering and terrorist financing.
  • Reviewing adherence to the casino’s policies and procedures.
  • Organizing staff training sessions on compliance-related issues.
  • Analyzing transactions and identifying those subject to reporting under the Ministerial Decree on Indicators for Unusual Transactions.
  • Reviewing internally reported unusual transactions for completeness and accuracy.
  • Maintaining records of both internally and externally reported unusual transactions.
  • Design an internal procedure about when reporting of unusual transactions will lead to blocking/ freezing of user accounts
  • Conducting further investigations into unusual transactions if necessary.
  • Preparing external reports on unusual transactions.
  • Making necessary changes to the AML program.
  • Staying informed about local and international developments related to money laundering and terrorist financing and suggesting improvements to management.
  • Preparing periodic reports on the casino’s efforts against money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation financing.

 

Conflict of Interest

The role of Compliance Officer must not be combined with any other function that could lead to a conflict of interest or compromise the independence of the compliance function. The Compliance Officer role cannot be combined with the functions of UBO, CEO, CFO, COO, Casino Manager, Slot Manager and other operational functions. Additionally, it should be separate from the internal audit function.

 

Exercising of Functions in Other Jurisdictions

An individual appointed as a Compliance Officer for a Curaçao entity may also serve as an MLRO in a foreign jurisdiction, provided they have sufficient time and resources to fulfill all roles effectively.

 

Outsourcing

The GCB permits the outsourcing of the compliance function to a reputable third party. The CV of the responsible manager must be submitted, detailing their experience and education levels. The operator should be able to provide the outsourcing contract upon request for evaluation by the GCB.

Any one person cannot represent more than 10 operators in the role of compliance function. This limit also includes similar roles in foreign jurisdictions. In specific cases, the GCB may contest this maximum given the size of the serviced operators.

Please note that the licensed operator remains responsible for ensuring the proper execution of the compliance function.

 

Transitional Arrangements

The GCB expects that both current and newly appointed Compliance Officers in the gaming sector will adhere to these guidelines.

If existing Compliance Officers of licensed operators do not meet one or more requirements at the time of introduction, some adjustment time will be allowed. The GCB expects the operator to comply with item 3 for its compliance officer right away. For items 5 and 6 the operator will have up to six months to comply with these requirements. Regarding item 4, competence, if the compliance officer is not compliant regarding experience and education levels, the licensed operator is awarded a maximum of 1 year to bring the knowledge of the compliance officer up to par. In this case, the licensed operator should disclose a training plan for the Compliance Officer, which will be monitored by the GCB.

Operators that have applied for a GCB license but have not been granted a license as yet at introduction date, should make sure that the proposed compliance officer complies with these guidelines since the mentioned transitional arrangements will not apply.

 

Exemptions

B2B licensees are not required to appoint a compliance officer as per the requirements issued in this guidance document.

 

Implementation Date

The implementation date is set for January 1, 2025

The post GCB Requirements for Compliance Officer Based on NOIS/NORUT appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

ACMA

ACMA: Six Wagering Providers Breach Gambling Self-Exclusion Rules

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The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has concluded six more investigations into licensed wagering providers for breaches of self-exclusion rules.

The ACMA investigations found Tabcorp, LightningBet, Betfocus, TempleBet, Picklebet and BetChamps all failed to comply with rules that protect people who registered with BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register.

The facts of each investigation are different but the breaches across the investigations included allowing registered individuals to open wagering accounts and to access wagering services, or marketing to registered individuals.

ACMA member Carolyn Lidgerwood said these breaches undermine the protections from gambling harm that self-exclusion offers.

“The national self-exclusion register is designed to help people who are trying to avoid gambling services and stop gambling, but self-exclusion only works if wagering providers follow the rules,” Ms Lidgerwood said.

“These rules have been in place for more than two years and wagering providers should be taking their responsibilities seriously.

“When people decide to self-exclude from online and telephone gambling, they trust the system to protect them from gambling harm. These investigations have found that these companies broke that trust and let people down.

“All licensed wagering providers need to be aware that the ACMA is investigating compliance and enforcing the rules. Gambling companies must have effective systems in place to ensure self-excluded people cannot gamble with them.”

The investigations identified that the providers did not ensure that their underlying systems and processes were operating as intended and failed to adequately identify and protect people who had self-excluded.

In response to these findings, the ACMA has used a range of different enforcement tools available under the Interactive Gambling Act 2001, having regard to the different facts arising under each investigation.

The ACMA has issued remedial directions to each of Betfocus, LightningBet and TempleBet. Under these remedial directions each of the providers will be required by law to commission an independent audit of their systems and implement any resulting recommendations.

This type of enforcement action is corrective and directed at future compliance with the rules. Failure to comply with a remedial direction is an offence and can result in civil penalties.

Tabcorp Holdings paid a penalty of $112,680 and agreed to enter into a court-enforceable undertaking requiring the company to commission a third-party review of its customer verification processes and train staff on their obligations around the Register. If not complied with, such an undertaking can be enforced in the Federal Court, with the Court being able to make such orders as it considers appropriate.

BetChamps was given a formal warning and the ACMA is currently finalising enforcement action for Picklebet.

All contraventions were found to have occurred in 2024. If these companies fail to comply with self-exclusion rules in the future, the ACMA may take stronger enforcement action, potentially including commencement of Federal Court proceedings to seek civil penalties.

The post ACMA: Six Wagering Providers Breach Gambling Self-Exclusion Rules appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Compliance Updates

UKGC Announces New Gaming Machine Rules

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The UK Gambling Commission has announced new rules requiring operators to remove non-compliant gaming machines from premises immediately once notified by the regulator.

The UKGC said all non-remote operators must already adhere to the Gambling Act 2005 and ensure machines available for consumer use are compliant. But from 29 July 2026 they must also immediately remove machines if the Commission informs them that the manufacture, supply, installation, adaption, maintenance or repair of the machine was not carried out in reliance on a gaming machine technical operating licence, or did not comply with other standards.

The change is aimed at streamlining processes and ensuring non-compliant machines are swiftly removed from premises – a benefit to consumers and operators.

The announcement forms part of the Commission’s response to its third consultation to implement proposals from the 2023 Gambling Act Review White Paper High stakes: gambling reform for the digital age.

The post UKGC Announces New Gaming Machine Rules appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Compliance Updates

Digitain Secures Isle of Man iGaming Software Supplier Licence

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Digitain has successfully secured an Isle of Man software supplier license.

This reflects the value Digitain has placed on stable institutions, credible oversight and long-term regulatory certainty — evidencing a clear signal that the Island remains a tier-one jurisdiction for serious, long-term gaming technology businesses.

Granted by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC), with Cavendish Trust and Digital Isle of Man supporting Digitain throughout the process, the licence further deepens the Island’s regulated supplier base and reinforces the Isle of Man’s proposition: a mature, well-regulated jurisdiction with a collaborative, high-standards approach to doing business.

Digitain is a leading global supplier of sportsbook and gaming technology to operators across multiple regulated markets, supporting both online and retail betting. With more than two decades of industry experience, the company is recognised for its scale, technical capability and enterprise-grade approach — making its decision to secure an Isle of Man licence a strong endorsement of the Island’s regulatory credibility and long-term stability.

Tim Johnston MHK, Minister for Enterprise, said: “Digitain is a significant player in the global iGaming industry, and its decision to secure an Isle of Man licence is a strong vote of confidence in the Island’s regulatory credibility and long-term stability. It demonstrates that the Isle of Man continues to attract serious, enterprise-scale technology providers who value high standards and regulatory certainty. We remain committed to supporting a future-focused iGaming sector that delivers sustainable, long-term economic value for the Isle of Man.”

With more than 20 years as a leading iGaming jurisdiction, the Isle of Man is recognised for proportionate, risk-based regulation, political and economic stability, and strong cooperation between Government, the GSC and industry — a combination that continues to attract high-quality businesses seeking a trusted base for regulated growth.

Shaun Corris, Director at Cavendish Trust, said: “We would like to congratulate Digitain on securing its Isle of Man licence. Supporting Digitain through the licensing process highlighted both the strength of the business and the calibre of the jurisdiction. Digitain’s decision to secure an Isle of Man licence reflects the Island’s continued appeal to established, international iGaming technology providers seeking long-term credibility and stability.”

Aida Vardanyan, Director within the Digitain group said: “The Isle of Man represents one of the most credible and mature iGaming jurisdictions globally and working under the oversight of the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission has reinforced our confidence in the Island as a long-term base for our regulated operations.”

“The licensing process of Digitain’s Isle of Man entity, Blue Whale Limited, was rigorous, transparent, and constructive, reflecting the depth of regulatory expertise and institutional stability that the Isle of Man is known for. Cavendish Trust played a central role in this journey, providing exceptional guidance, regulatory insight, and operational support throughout the process. Their experience, professionalism, and deep understanding of both the jurisdiction and the global iGaming landscape were instrumental in achieving this milestone, and we look forward to continuing our partnership as we grow our regulated business from the Isle of Man.”

The post Digitain Secures Isle of Man iGaming Software Supplier Licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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