SkillOnNet has been charged £305,105 by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) to support social responsibility initiatives

SkillOnNet has been issued a “payment in lieu of a financial penalty” by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) amounting to £305,150 due to violations related to social responsibility and anti-money laundering measures.

SkillOnNet, the operator of 50 websites, including white label arrangements such as gentingcasino.com, playtoro.com, and slotstars.com, has become the latest target of the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC) for license breaches. This follows a series of regulatory enforcement actions resulting in £76 million in penalties issued between January 2022 and April 2023.

According to the UKGC, SkillOnNet failed to prevent gambling-related crime, ensure fair and transparent practices, and protect vulnerable individuals from harm or exploitation. The regulator noted that the company had inadequate policies, procedures, and controls in place to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and responsible gambling requirements. Specifically, there were weaknesses in implementing responsible gambling obligations, including allowing customers to deposit and lose amounts exceeding the £2,000 limit set by the firm.

SkillOnNet also failed to effectively identify at-risk customers and their associated harm indicators, as well as conduct effective interactions to assess risks. The company was found to have insufficiently utilized account information provided by the regulator and overlooked considerations such as customer salaries and risk profiles.

Additionally, SkillOnNet did not comply with the requirement for a nominated officer to provide an annual report on AML, relied too heavily on verbal comments and monetary thresholds, and did not adequately address payment failures related to third parties, organized crime groups, and money laundering risks.

Although the UKGC identified failings during two periods of special measures against SkillOnNet, the regulator acknowledged the company’s efforts to rectify the breaches, accept responsibility, and take prompt action as mitigating factors.

The £305,150 charge imposed by the UKGC will be directed towards funding social responsibility initiatives. SkillOnNet will also cover the investigation costs, amounting to £9,079, and has agreed to undergo a third-party audit.