Lottomart Operator to Pay $448K Penalty for Regulatory Non-Compliance

Lottomart Operator Faces Substantial Fine for Regulatory Breaches

Maple International Ventures, the company behind Lottomart, has agreed to a penalty payment of GBP 360,000 (around $448,000) following a regulatory investigation by the United Kingdom’s Gambling Commission. The investigation uncovered failures in the company’s adherence to anti-money laundering regulations and social responsibility standards.

Regulatory Review Exposes Serious Operational Deficiencies

In June 2024, the Gambling Commission conducted a thorough compliance review under section 116 of Maple International Ventures Limited’s remote operating licence for Lottomart.com. The review identified significant weaknesses in the operator’s internal controls. Notably, the company’s risk assessments were insufficient, systems to detect duplicate accounts were ineffective, and customer interaction procedures to spot gambling-related harm were lacking.

The Commission also found that some customers who had not been fully verified were permitted to conduct transactions exceeding the limits that require mandatory customer due diligence.

Between June 2023 and July 2024, the operator’s risk assessments failed to consider key threats such as organised criminal activity and the use of mule accounts. The detection mechanisms were so flawed that a single customer could evade detection by simply switching the order of their first and last names.

From a social responsibility perspective, the company did not have adequate monitoring systems from the point of account creation to identify warning signs such as excessive gambling, sudden increases in playing activity, overnight sessions, or significant bets placed after big wins.

The agreed penalty includes a GBP 50,000 (roughly $62,000) contribution directed towards socially responsible gambling initiatives.

Comments from Gambling Commission Officials

John Pierce, the Enforcement Director at the Gambling Commission, stressed that the cornerstone of all licensed gambling operators should be robust policies that prevent criminal activity and encourage safer gambling practices. He stated that Maple International Ventures is being held responsible for their shortcomings in anti-money laundering measures and social responsibility during the compliance check.

Pierce further urged all gambling operators to learn from this case, review the Commission’s findings, and ensure their own controls and procedures are both strong and properly applied.