- Introduction and Regulatory Basis
Grosvenor Casino Margate operates as a premises of Grosvenor Casinos Limited, a company licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission under licence account number 614. The operator’s registered head office is located at Rank Group, TOR, Saint-Cloud Way, Maidenhead, SL6 8BN, United Kingdom. The Margate venue is registered with the Gambling Commission as Thanet Grosvenor Casino, situated at Unit 47, Westwood Cross, Margate Road, Broadstairs, CT10 2BF.
As a licensed casino operator in Great Britain, Grosvenor Casinos Limited is subject to the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, the Terrorism Act 2000, the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017, and the conditions and codes of practice issued by the UK Gambling Commission. This document sets out the obligations and procedures that apply to customers and to the operator in connection with anti-money laundering (AML) and know your customer (KYC) compliance at Grosvenor Casino Margate.
- Purpose of This Policy
The purpose of this policy is to describe the controls maintained at Grosvenor Casino Margate to prevent the premises from being used for money laundering or terrorist financing, and to explain the obligations placed on customers as a condition of access to gaming services. This document does not constitute legal advice. Customers who require clarification on their own legal obligations should seek independent legal counsel.
3. Customer Identity Verification (KYC)
3.1 Obligation to Verify Identity
Grosvenor Casino Margate is required to verify the identity of customers before permitting gambling activity. This requirement applies in accordance with the UK Gambling Commission’s licensing conditions and the applicable money laundering regulations. Verification may be required at the point of registration, at the point of account opening, or at any subsequent stage where the operator determines that verification is necessary.
3.2 Information and Documents Required
Customers may be required to provide one or more of the following categories of information and documentation:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Residential address
- Government-issued photographic identification (such as a passport or driving licence)
- Proof of address (such as a utility bill or bank statement issued within a specified recent period)
- Source of funds documentation
- Source of wealth documentation
The operator reserves the right to request additional documentation where the circumstances of a customer’s activity require enhanced due diligence. Failure to provide requested documentation within a reasonable period may result in the suspension or closure of a customer account and the restriction of access to gaming services.
3.3 Electronic Verification
Where permitted, the operator may use electronic identity verification methods to confirm customer identity. Electronic verification does not remove the operator’s right to request documentary evidence where electronic checks are inconclusive or where additional verification is required under the operator’s risk-based approach.
4. Anti-Money Laundering Controls
4.1 Risk Assessment
Grosvenor Casinos Limited conducts money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessments in accordance with the requirements of the UK Gambling Commission and applicable legislation. These assessments consider the nature of the customer base, the types of transactions conducted, and emerging risks identified through regulatory guidance and internal monitoring.
4.2 Customer Due Diligence
Standard customer due diligence is applied to all customers. Enhanced due diligence is applied in circumstances where a higher risk of money laundering or terrorist financing is identified. Circumstances that may trigger enhanced due diligence include, but are not limited to:
- Customers identified as politically exposed persons (PEPs) or their associates
- Customers from jurisdictions identified as higher risk
- Unusual or unexplained patterns of activity
- Transactions that are inconsistent with a customer’s stated source of funds or wealth
4.3 Ongoing Monitoring
The operator conducts ongoing monitoring of customer activity. This includes review of transactions to assess consistency with the operator’s knowledge of the customer, their source of funds, and their risk profile. Where activity is identified that is inconsistent with the customer’s profile or that raises suspicion of money laundering or terrorist financing, the operator will take appropriate action in accordance with its legal obligations, which may include filing a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) with the National Crime Agency (NCA).
4.4 Prohibited Conduct
The following conduct is prohibited and constitutes grounds for account suspension, account closure, and reporting to relevant authorities:
- Money laundering or any attempt to use gaming services to launder funds
- Use of third-party funds or payment details that do not belong to the registered customer
- Depositing or withdrawing funds without genuine play, where this is identified as an attempt to process funds through the operator’s systems
- Provision of false, misleading, or forged documentation in connection with identity verification or source of funds requests
- Use of a virtual private network (VPN) or other technical means to disguise the customer’s true location or identity
5. Customer Obligations
Customers accessing gaming services at Grosvenor Casino Margate accept the following obligations:
- To provide accurate and complete information at the point of registration and at any subsequent point when requested by the operator
- To notify the operator promptly of any change in personal details, including name, address, or other identifying information
- To cooperate fully with identity verification and source of funds requests
- To refrain from any conduct that constitutes money laundering, fraud, or any other prohibited activity as defined in the operator’s terms and conditions and applicable law
- To use only payment methods and funds that belong to the customer and are lawfully obtained
6. Operator Obligations
Grosvenor Casino Margate and Grosvenor Casinos Limited maintain the following obligations under applicable law and regulatory conditions:
- To conduct and document risk assessments in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing
- To apply customer due diligence measures before permitting gambling and on an ongoing basis
- To maintain records of customer identity verification and transaction monitoring for the periods required by law
- To train relevant staff in AML and KYC obligations and in the identification of suspicious activity
- To report suspicious activity to the NCA where required by law
- To cooperate with the UK Gambling Commission and other competent authorities in connection with AML compliance
7. Enforcement History
The UK Gambling Commission has previously recorded enforcement action in relation to Grosvenor Casinos Limited concerning AML shortcomings. As part of the agreed regulatory outcome, the operator undertook remedial actions including a third-party audit of revised AML arrangements and the surrender of an estimated £950,000 in profits associated with the identified shortcomings. This enforcement outcome is a matter of public record on the Gambling Commission’s website. The operator has since implemented revised AML controls in accordance with the agreed remedial programme.
8. Jurisdiction and Access
Gaming services at Grosvenor Casino Margate are provided in accordance with the laws of Great Britain. Access to services is restricted to persons who meet the operator’s eligibility requirements, including age verification requirements, and who are not located in jurisdictions where such services are not lawful. Customers must not use technical means to circumvent location or identity controls.
9. Contact and Regulatory Authority
The UK Gambling Commission is the regulatory authority responsible for overseeing AML compliance by Grosvenor Casinos Limited. The Gambling Commission’s public register entry for the operator can be accessed via the Commission’s official website using licence account number 614. Customers with concerns relating to AML or KYC procedures may direct enquiries to the operator through the contact channels published on the official Grosvenor Casinos website at grosvenorcasinos.com.