This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-65091257
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| William Hill let new customer bet £23,000 in 20 minutes | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gambling Commission head: £19m is a 'sizeable penalty' for William Hill | |
| Gambling Commission head: £19m is a 'sizeable penalty' for William Hill | |
| Three gambling firms owned by William Hill are to pay penalties of £19.2m for failing to protect consumers and weak anti-money laundering controls. | Three gambling firms owned by William Hill are to pay penalties of £19.2m for failing to protect consumers and weak anti-money laundering controls. |
| The record penalty comes after the Gambling Commission found new customers were able to bet large sums over short periods without proper checks. | The record penalty comes after the Gambling Commission found new customers were able to bet large sums over short periods without proper checks. |
| In one case, a customer was allowed to open a new account and spend £23,000 in 20 minutes without any checks. | In one case, a customer was allowed to open a new account and spend £23,000 in 20 minutes without any checks. |
| The commission "seriously considered" suspending William Hill's licence. | The commission "seriously considered" suspending William Hill's licence. |
| It found several failures to guard against possible money laundering, with customers allowed to deposit large amounts without the business conducting appropriate checks. | It found several failures to guard against possible money laundering, with customers allowed to deposit large amounts without the business conducting appropriate checks. |
| One person was able to spend and lose £70,134 in a month, while another deposited £73,535 and lost £14,068 in four months. | One person was able to spend and lose £70,134 in a month, while another deposited £73,535 and lost £14,068 in four months. |
| The problems discovered by the Gambling Commission took place between January 2020 and October 2021. | |
| "When we launched this investigation the failings we uncovered were so widespread and alarming serious consideration was given to licence suspension," said Andrew Rhodes, the Gambling Commission's chief executive. | "When we launched this investigation the failings we uncovered were so widespread and alarming serious consideration was given to licence suspension," said Andrew Rhodes, the Gambling Commission's chief executive. |
| "However, because the operator immediately recognised their failings and worked with us to swiftly implement improvements, we instead opted for the largest enforcement payment in our history." | "However, because the operator immediately recognised their failings and worked with us to swiftly implement improvements, we instead opted for the largest enforcement payment in our history." |
| What's the answer to Britain's hidden gambling problem? | What's the answer to Britain's hidden gambling problem? |
| Desperate calls: How a gambling addiction took hold | |
| Mr Rhodes told the BBC's Today programme the commission had seen "immediate and significant improvements" under the company's new management. | |
| William Hill was taken over last year by 888 Holdings, an international gambling group that reported profits of $81.3m (£66m) in 2021 with revenues of $980m. | |
| 888 said the problems had happened under the previous ownership and management. "After William Hill was acquired, the company quickly addressed the identified issues with the implementation of a rigorous action plan," a spokesperson said. | 888 said the problems had happened under the previous ownership and management. "After William Hill was acquired, the company quickly addressed the identified issues with the implementation of a rigorous action plan," a spokesperson said. |
| Among the issues uncovered by the commission: | Among the issues uncovered by the commission: |
| one person was allowed to open a new account and bet £32,500 over two days without any checks | one person was allowed to open a new account and bet £32,500 over two days without any checks |
| the group failed to identify customers who were at risk of experiencing gambling related harm. In one instance, a customer lost £14,902 in 70 minutes | the group failed to identify customers who were at risk of experiencing gambling related harm. In one instance, a customer lost £14,902 in 70 minutes |
| the group failed to apply a 24-hour delay between receiving requests for an increase in a credit limit and granting it. One customer was allowed to place a £100,000 bet immediately, even though he had a £70,000 credit limit | the group failed to apply a 24-hour delay between receiving requests for an increase in a credit limit and granting it. One customer was allowed to place a £100,000 bet immediately, even though he had a £70,000 credit limit |
| customers were able to place large bets without sufficient checks on the source of the funds being carried out | customers were able to place large bets without sufficient checks on the source of the funds being carried out |
| the group failed to ask for source of funds evidence when one customer staked £19,000 in a single bet, and did the same in another case when a punter bet £39,324 and lost £20,360 over 12 days. | the group failed to ask for source of funds evidence when one customer staked £19,000 in a single bet, and did the same in another case when a punter bet £39,324 and lost £20,360 over 12 days. |
| "The reason we have the requirements to have controls in place is to stop people being able to spend such large amounts of money so quickly without intervention," Mr Rhodes told the BBC. | "The reason we have the requirements to have controls in place is to stop people being able to spend such large amounts of money so quickly without intervention," Mr Rhodes told the BBC. |
| "It may be that they can't afford it, it may be that it's a choice they want to make, but we have to have safeguards in place, and William Hill accept that they simply didn't have them at this time." | "It may be that they can't afford it, it may be that it's a choice they want to make, but we have to have safeguards in place, and William Hill accept that they simply didn't have them at this time." |
| He said on average 22.5 million people gambled each year, spending less than £300 in total. | |
| "So if somebody is spending an unusual amount then we would expect to see intervention. That is what should have happened here," Mr Rhodes said. | |
| Where to get help on gambling | |
| The NHS addiction support website outlines what help is available. | |
| GamCare operates the National Gambling Helpline, providing information, advice and support for anyone affected by gambling problems - advisers are available 24 hours a day on Freephone 0808 8020 133 or via web chat. | |
| Gamblers Anonymous provides a list of support meetings for problem gamblers in Scotland here and in England, Wales and Northern Ireland here. | |
| Further sources of support can be found on the BBC Action Line page. | |
| Under the settlement with the William Hill Group, WHG (International), which runs williamhill.com, will pay £12.5m, Mr Green, which runs mrgreen.com, will pay £3.7m and William Hill Organization, which runs more than 1,300 betting outlets across Britain, will pay £3m. | Under the settlement with the William Hill Group, WHG (International), which runs williamhill.com, will pay £12.5m, Mr Green, which runs mrgreen.com, will pay £3.7m and William Hill Organization, which runs more than 1,300 betting outlets across Britain, will pay £3m. |
| The £19.2m collected from the penalties will go towards "socially responsible" good causes. | The £19.2m collected from the penalties will go towards "socially responsible" good causes. |
| The previous largest penalty imposed by the Gambling Commission was £17m against Entain last year. | The previous largest penalty imposed by the Gambling Commission was £17m against Entain last year. |
| Despite the penalties, Mr Rhodes said there were now "signs of improvement" in gambling operators' behaviour. | Despite the penalties, Mr Rhodes said there were now "signs of improvement" in gambling operators' behaviour. |
| "There are indications that the industry is doing more to make gambling safer and reducing the possibility of criminal funds entering their businesses," he said. | "There are indications that the industry is doing more to make gambling safer and reducing the possibility of criminal funds entering their businesses," he said. |
| "Operators are using algorithms to spot gambling harms or criminal risk more quickly, interacting with consumers sooner, and generally having more effective policies and procedures in place." | "Operators are using algorithms to spot gambling harms or criminal risk more quickly, interacting with consumers sooner, and generally having more effective policies and procedures in place." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Companies | Companies |
| William Hill (bookmaker) | William Hill (bookmaker) |
| Gambling | Gambling |