CASINO CAUTION

AS the Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) shores up its anti-money laundering defences ahead of the planned opening of Jamaica’s first casino at Princess Grande Jamaica Resort in Hanover early next year, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has issued a warning on key red flags to look out for. FATF, the global illicit-finance watchdog, published a list of new gaming scams in a report on Wednesday, which it said was based on surveys conducted and included contributions from more than 80 jurisdictions. The document titled ‘Red Flag Risk Indicators, Risks of Gaming and Gambling’, stated that the industries have changed significantly over recent years and continue to evolve through the expansion of online, cross-border, multi-product, and multi-payment platforms.

FATF said the work offers an updated analysis of money laundering risks posed by the casino sector as well as risks posed by the broader gambling and gaming sectors. Red flag indicators in customer behaviour at brick-and-mortar casinos included attempts to influence or bribe venue staff to ignore their activities or bypass thorough customer due diligence checks and offering tips and other incentives. Casino Gaming Commission (CGC) Chief Executive Officer Cleveland Allen (second left) gestures while speaking at a recent Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange. Flanking him are CGC executives (from left) Caleigh Reid, legal officer; Damion McKenzie, senior director, investigations and enforcement; and Shainee Myles, director of human resource. (Photo: Joseph Wellington) Some casino customers were found to only want to deal with one staff member and avoid other staffers. These schemers use third parties to place cash into redemption terminals and purchase gaming chips, or place bets in an attempt to anonymise gambling. The…