EU tightens gambling rules for 9 new high-risk money-laundering countries
The European Union has updated its list of countries with weak anti-money-laundering (AML) controls. This year’s report adds nine new locations to the high-risk category. Gambling operators across the EU must now apply stricter checks on visitors from these regions. The EU’s latest assessment identifies countries with major gaps in their AML systems. Burkina Faso, the Cayman Islands, Haiti, Jordan, Mali, Morocco, the Philippines, Senegal, and South Sudan were included for the first time. They join existing entries like Afghanistan, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Syria.
The European Commission (EC) bases its decisions on multiple sources. These include Europol, the European External Action Service, and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Factors such as customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting play a key role in the evaluation.
Before finalising the list, the EC consults with affected countries. It highlights preliminary deficiencies and offers support to help them improve. The last major review took place in 2020, with the next full assessment planned for 2025.
Under the new rules, gambling operators must increase scrutiny of individuals from these high-risk locations. Enhanced monitoring will apply when visitors from these countries access gaming facilities in the EU. The updated list now covers 23 countries with strategic AML weaknesses. Gambling businesses must adjust their checks to comply with the stricter requirements. The next full review of the EU’s risk profile is expected in 2025.
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