Rank Loses UK Fine Appeal

Gaming operator Rank Group has lost an appeal to the UK Gambling Commission and will be forced to pay a hefty £5.8 million fine that it was issued last year.

The fine came in September of 2021 for various anti-money laundering and social responsibility failings that took place between January 2019 and march 2020. The company appealed the fine, saying the penalty was excessive and disproportionate. The case went to the First-Tier Tribunal and was heard by Judge Jacqueline Findlay, who ruled the fine was fair and reasonable.

In her ruling, Judge Findlay said, "I find that there were serious breaches which were similar to the breaches for which a substantial financial penalty was imposed in 2018 and there are no new facts which persuade me that the decision was wrong.

"I find that the (Commission Regulatory) Panel did not err in law and complied with its statutory obligations."

The UKGC issued comment on the decision, with Deputy Executive Director Sarah Gardner saying: "We do not take the decision to fine gambling companies lightly but we will always take firm, decisive action against operators who fail to follow rules aimed at making gambling safe and free from crime."