UKGC Imposes £1 Million Fine on ProgressPlay for Social Responsibility and AML Breaches
Introduction to the UKGC Fine on ProgressPlay
The UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) has taken strong regulatory action against ProgressPlay Limited, one of its licensed operators, due to failures related to anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility obligations. As a consequence, ProgressPlay faces a substantial fine and the requirement to undergo an independent audit to address these issues.
Serious Failings Identified in ProgressPlay’s Operations
ProgressPlay operates approximately 134 gambling websites across the United Kingdom. The UKGC’s investigation revealed multiple significant shortcomings in the company’s compliance systems.
Regarding AML compliance, ProgressPlay failed to carry out a comprehensive Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing risk assessment. Additionally, the operator did not have effective controls in place to reduce the risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing activities.
The regulator further identified lapses such as insufficient scrutiny of customer transactions, failure to verify sources of funds when needed, and inadequate risk evaluations for high-spending customers.
On the social responsibility front, ProgressPlay was found lacking in effective monitoring of customer behavior to prevent gambling harm. The company did not have adequate procedures to gauge the effects of customer interactions nor to decide when further intervention was warranted to protect vulnerable players.
Consequences and Regulatory Response
Due to these serious breaches, ProgressPlay has been fined £1 million. This penalty reflects the gravity of the failures and the fact that these were not isolated incidents, as the company had previously been sanctioned for similar violations.
In addition to the financial penalty, the UKGC has mandated a third-party audit of ProgressPlay’s practices to ensure that corrective measures are properly implemented and sustained over time.
The UKGC’s Stance on Repeated Violations
John Pierce, UKGC’s Director of Enforcement and Intelligence, emphasized the expectation that licensed operators maintain strong AML and safer gambling frameworks. These systems should be routinely evaluated to confirm their effectiveness.
Pierce expressed clear dissatisfaction that ProgressPlay has breached regulations more than once, underscoring that such repeated infringements are unacceptable.
This case represents the second enforcement action taken against ProgressPlay Limited by the Gambling Commission. The company’s ongoing failure to fulfill AML duties and gaps in social responsibility safeguards cannot be overlooked.
John Pierce, Director of Enforcement and Intelligence, UK Gambling Commission
He warned that any further breaches could lead to even harsher regulatory measures. For context, ProgressPlay’s earlier violation resulted in a £175,000 fine.
The UKGC encourages all gambling operators to heed this case as a reminder to uphold rigorous compliance standards and to avoid similar missteps.
Looking Ahead
Meanwhile, the UK Gambling Commission has initiated consultations on proposed changes to its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP), signaling ongoing efforts to enhance regulatory controls in the industry.
