Gambling Commission Imposes Heavy Fine on Corbett Bookmakers for AML and Safety Failures

The Gambling Commission has mandated a third-party audit of Corbett Bookmakers’ anti-money laundering (AML) and safer gambling policies following a fine of £686,070 issued to the retail betting operator. This penalty was imposed after the regulator identified multiple failings in social responsibility and AML practices that took place between February 2022 and May 2024.

Corbett Bookmakers, which operates 36 locations, including betting facilities at various UK racecourses, is required to complete the audit of its AML and safer gambling protocols within the next 12 months.

The Gambling Commission pointed to specific incidents that highlighted the operator’s shortcomings. For instance, one customer wagered £23,674 in just 13 days without being flagged as potentially at risk. Another individual lost £3,523 after making 56 bets in just four hours without receiving the necessary intervention. A third player lost £6,741 after betting £47,416 over a period of ten weeks, also without appropriate engagement.

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Additionally, the regulator uncovered AML deficiencies, noting that some players lost considerable amounts without undergoing Know Your Customer (KYC) checks or having their source of funds verified, as the operator had set excessively high financial thresholds. One customer managed to place bets totaling £47,000 and lost £14,000 over the course of eight months without any verification measures being implemented.

The Gambling Commission criticized Corbett Bookmakers for not adopting a sufficiently risk-based approach to AML and terrorist financing, indicating that the risk assessment performed by the operator did not adequately cover customer profiles, product types, geographic areas, and payment methods.

John Pierce, the director of enforcement at the Gambling Commission, stated, “Corbett has neglected essential regulations designed to enhance the safety of gambling and eliminate criminal activities. Consequently, the company will face not only a significant financial penalty but will also need to undergo a comprehensive audit to ensure compliance with AML and safer gambling standards.”

Pierce added, “Beyond the corrective measures already initiated, we expect the operator to promptly and fully implement the audit’s recommendations, showcasing tangible improvements in both policy and practice. If they fail to do so, our compliance team will reevaluate the situation and may pursue further actions. This case serves as a critical reminder for all operators to reflect on the consequences faced by Corbett.”

Earlier this month, the Gambling Commission imposed a £1.4 million fine on AG Communications for violations related to social responsibility and AML protocols, including the absence of proactive measures when players made large expenditures within short timeframes. In one notable instance, a player lost £6,000 in 48 hours without any safer gambling interaction until they reached their daily loss limit of £5,000. Another case involved a player who deposited and lost £7,000 in just four hours due to a system error that disabled their loss limits. Furthermore, a manual review failed to catch this oversight. Lastly, another individual succeeded in creating multiple accounts despite having previously self-excluded.