UKGC penalises Rank and Annexio for social responsibility failures

UKGC

Rank Digital Gaming and Annexio have been penalised and will pay a total of £1.3m, after the UK Gambling Commission discovered social responsibility failures at the pair.

The former, which counts Bella Casino, Grosvenor Casino, Mecca Bingo and Mecca Games as part of its stable, saw the faults identified following a compliance assessment, which resulted in a review of its remote operating licence.

This found failings in the group’s processes aimed at protecting vulnerable people, as the UKGC adds that between October 2019 and February 2021 Rank failed to comply with the licence conditions and codes of practice regarding social responsibility provisions.

Subsequently, the group will pay £700,557 in lieu of a financial penalty, which will be directed towards delivering the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms, as well as covering the Commission’s costs relating to its investigation.

Annexio, trading as LottoGo, also saw an investigation trigger a regulatory review of its licence, which found failings in its processes that were aimed at preventing money laundering and protecting vulnerable people.

The UKGC identified that between October 2019 and November 2021, Annexio also failed to comply with the LCCP.

In addition to a payment towards UKGC costs, Annexio’s settlement consists of a payment of £612,000, consisting of £112,000 divestment and £500,000 penal element, in lieu of a financial penalty, which will also be directed towards delivering the National Strategy to Reduce Gambling Harms.

Helen Venn, Gambling Commission executive director, said: “We expect high standards from operators to ensure gambling in Britain is safe and crime free. Those businesses that fail to meet these standards will find themselves facing costly regulatory action.”