GC issues further sanctions for Caesars staff after VIP failings

In April 2020, the Commission found Caesars breached a number of social responsibility, money laundering and customer interaction regulations related to VIP customers.

CEUK’s failings included allowing one player to spend £820,000, losing £240,000, over a 13-month period at a London casino without the operator taking sufficient action to confirm the source of funds. 

Another customer spent £800,000 and lost £795,000 despite being flagged as a high risk individual. CEUK did not obtain proof of source of funds or evidence of the individual’s wealth.

Caesars paid a record settlement of £13m (€14.7m/$16.1m) and three senior managers at the business surrendered their personal management licences (PML), but the regulator said its investigation into PML holders would continue.

Now, the Gambling Commission has announced that seven PML holders received licence warnings and two PML holders who were under review received advice to conduct letters. 

A further 18 PML holders who were not under review but were looked into as part of the investigation also received advice to conduct letters.

In addition, one PML holder surrendered their licence while under investigation, though their licence was not officially under review.

Another PML holder had their licence revoked for non-payment of fees, while a further staff member who was not under investigation had his licence revoked following an altercation with a guest.

“All personal licence holders should be aware that they will be held accountable, where appropriate, for the regulatory failings within the operators they manage,” Gambling Commission executive director Richard Watson said.