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Exclusive interview with Alex Henderson(Head of AML at The Ritz Hotel Casino), speaker at Prague Gaming Summit

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Dear readers and subscribers,

Thank you for following my interview series and for sharing these information with your colleagues and partners. If you would like to be featured in an upcoming interview, please send me an e-mail to [email protected] and I will happily get back to you!

Moving forward, I would like to introduce my latest interviewee, Alex Henderson, who is the current Head of AML at The Ritz Hotel Casino and also a speaker at our upcoming live event/conference in Prague.

Thank you for your time and I hope you will gain vital information needed for your business in regards to AML and AMLD 4.

I would like to thank you for spending time to answer our questions. First I would kindly ask you to shortly introduce yourself.

Alex: I am the current head of AML at one of the UK’s top Mayfair casinos as well as a trainer for the global leader in AML/social responsibility training for gambling operators (AML Gaming Solutions). I have worked for the past 7 years for the National Crime Agency as a financial investigator and within the AML expert witness team as well as within covert operations where I portrayed many roles within counter terrorism, drugs. The most relevant to my current career is that I portrayed the role of an international money launderer.

Would you please speak about the effects of AMLD 4 on the gambling industry in geneneral and in the UK in particular?

Alex: My opinion is that in general the 4th MLD has had little impact for some operators but major impact for many others (if they have made the appropriate changes). The main impact came from the requirement to “know your customers” better which for many land based operators it is not a huge change, as many of them already go a long way to know about their clientele. For many online operators this was a tough change as my opinion is that many operators do the bare minimum when it comes to due diligence. Overall, I think that many operators do not even have measures in place to comply with law from 2002 (proceeds of crime act 2002), so I would not expect those operators to be doing anything to comply with law that has been in place less than 10 months. The reason I say this is because many of the MLRO’s (money laundering reporting officer) or AML managers I speak with know very little about money laundering/financial crime or their roles and responsibilities and the relevant laws and regulations.

You advise large number of organisations with regards to their AML compliance programmes. According to your experience what are the most frequent problems, issues regarding this topic?

Alex: Lack of knowledge is number 1. I am not just referring to the lower level employees but with MLRO’s and AML managers, the level of knowledge sometimes scares me. I have met with MLRO’s who did not know how to input a SAR (Suspicious activity report), some did not know basic money laundering techniques and how to identify them
 then these MLRO’s are entrusted to protect the business and oversee staff training, so it is effectively the blind leading the blind. I speak with some businesses who tell me that they are low risk for money laundering or that criminals do not use their business
. When I tell them that I myself have actually laundered money through their business or have spent criminal proceeds through their business they have a sudden change in attitude, which for me is a good thing. Many gambling employees have not been given the basic knowledge for preventing financial crime which is the fault of the operator. I enjoy giving staff this knowledge and empowering them to detect criminality and prevent those criminals using their businesses.

What social responsibilities does preventing money laundering include?

Alex: In many cases, social responsibility and AML go hand in hand. If an operator has good AML processes in place they will often detect problem gambling concerns and vice versa. We have seen in the recent enforcement action that when an operator is punished for their lapses in social responsibility they are also punished for their lapses in AML, this is because operators generally do not do enough to protect their customers. If an operator has done enough to determine a customer’s Source of Wealth (SOW) they should know when that customer is spending more than they can afford. Therefore if that customer is spending outside of their known income, an operator should be doing extra checks to determine if the customer is spending more, because they either have a gambling problem or they are spending more because they also have some illegitimate funds that have not previously been uncovered.

There are new regulations in this domain. Will you please speak about these and their effects?

Alex: Operators are expected to do more, and rightly so. The expectation from the regulator is that both remote and non-remote operators need to step up and start protecting customers. But this is difficult and causes a huge conflict of interest amongst operators; on one hand they are trying to run a profitable business, keep customers gambling and spending money, on the other hand they are expected to stop customer if they gamble too long or spend too much money. The punishment for not protecting customers is too soft in my opinion. The gambling commission should be taking licences and giving hefty fines, at the moment operators get away with doing very little to protect customers. Operators would do a lot more if they genuinely felt their licence was on the line or that they would be fined excessively. If we take the banking industry as an example, it took HSBC getting fined ÂŁ250m for all the banks to start carrying out adequate AML due diligence, before the HSB fine banks always done the minimum because they knew any fine they received would be worth paying. I think the gambling commission is definitely moving in the right direction but they need to send out a clear message, the way to do that is to start making examples of operators.

What about the UK? Where is it heading with the new regulations?

Alex: I think the gambling commission is going to get tougher and tougher on operators until the operators eventually start looking after their customers. UK operators need to do more, especially online. There is a poor knowledge of AML and even worse knowledge on problem gambling when it comes to online operators. Staff needs to be given proper training so they can protect the businesses and their legitimate customers. I think more regulation will keep coming and will keep getting harder until operators take it upon themselves to start protecting customers.

What do you think what is gaming considered by the people of the UK today; are they satisfied with the new changes?

Alex: Public trust in gambling has drastically decreased; this is because of all the negative media on problem gambling and money laundering. I think the public are happy that the industry is under such scrutiny because financial crime and problem gambling effects so many people. Operators have the power to regain trust from the public and I do think all the changes the commission and the government are trying to make will help to regain public trust once again.

What would you change in the present state of the British gambling market?

Alex: I would make it a requirement for operators and all staff to undertake adequate and relevant training on both AML and problem gambling. Many operators put staff through poor internal courses or e-learning programs which is not good enough. AML Gaming Solutions (AMLGS) are made up of AML experts who have worked for law enforcement, government and regulators. They deliver face to face training to all staff from the ground all the way up to the CEO which is highly important. Every operator should be undertaking training from experts such as AMLGS. It is vital for staff to hear from professionals and to understand what a vital role their play in preventing financial crime and protecting customers

What is your personal opinion about gambling industry in general in Europe?

Alex: I think that the industry is moving in the right direction, the constant updates in law and regulation are a good thing and operators need to embrace the changes. I do believe that from compliance perspective more needs to be done by operators, but we are getting there slowly. The industry is going to continue to grow; it is this growth that has brought the attention of various governments and law enforcements. Five years ago the industry was not on anyone’s radar but now every government in the world has taken an interest. This scrutiny has brought a well-deserved pressure to operators who have for many years failed to prevent financial crime; I think the message is clear: step up and do more or be on the receiving end of some very harsh penalties.

To hear more about the subject and meet Alex in person, make sure you register and attend Prague Gaming Summit 2018, held on the 29th of March at Andel’s by Vienna House Prague.

Interviewee profile:

Alex specialises in preventing money laundering in its varying forms and has a very unique insight that is hard to find.

Alex Henderson is the current Head of AML at The Ritz Hotel Casino, one of the worlds most prestigious casinos. Alex has worked for the National Crime Agency (NCA) as part of the AML expert witness team and has been involved in multiple high end money laundering investigations. As well as having worked for several years as part of the NCA’s AML expert witness team, Alex spent much of his NCA career working as part of the covert operations unit (Undercover operations) portraying many different roles, including the role of a high end money launderer. This unique insight into the mind of a criminal allows financial institutions to see the vulnerabilities and risks from a new angle. Alex advises a large number of organisations with regards to their AML compliance programmes and has lectured extensively in the UK and across Europe.

EXPERIENCE
‱ Successfully delivered AML training workshops to a large banking group with over 4000 employees
‱ Advises money service bureaus, banks and regulated businesses on their AML risks
‱ Operated in a covert capacity in various operations across the UK, portraying the role of a money launderer amongst many others
‱ Involved in many high profile investigations involving trade based money laundering and sector focused laundering
‱ Advised leading organisations on the financial crime risks and vulnerabilities impacting their business
‱ Delivered training to multiple financial institutions and developed staff knowledge of AML across over 100 organisations to date
‱ Leading the AML team at one of London’s top casinos, handling high risk members and overseeing the due diligence of the business customer database
‱ Advised a major bank in regards to their AML fine and enforcement action on best practice moving forward
‱ Involved in various counter terrorism and AML Law Enforcement operations across the UK

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Conferences in Europe

Soft2Bet celebrates a year of growth and innovation at SiGMA Malta Europe 2024

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Soft2Bet celebrates a year of growth and innovation at SiGMA Malta Europe 2024
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Soft2Bet is set to make a major impact at SiGMA Malta Europe, focusing on MEGA, turnkey solutions and key speaking engagements from senior executives from 12-14 November.

Soft2Bet, the iGaming industry’s leading turnkey solutions provider, is gearing up to unveil a new format for its MEGA Workshop during 4 closed sessions on 12 and 13 November at SiGMA Malta Europe. After a highly successful MEGA Workshop experience at the SBC Summit Lisbon for more than 250 visitors, Soft2Bet intends to showcase how its solution drives engagement, activity and revenues for Soft2Bet and its B2B partners.

Turnkey solutions and new launches driving growth

Soft2Bet will also unveil its latest turnkey solution, newly-launched gaming engines and casino solutions that are delivering impressive results for partners as they increase player engagement, retention and drive revenue growth in the most competitive iGaming markets.  As Soft2Bet continues to expand into new markets, it will provide exclusive insights into its recently-launched partnerships and brands.

Product focus

The Soft2Bet MEGA workshop will also demonstrate how MEGA seamlessly integrates as a standalone solution through an API, providing the best UX to its players,  ensuring quick and efficient deployment for operators looking to elevate their platforms.

The results of these efforts speak for themselves, with the group’s Scandinavian brand Betinia reporting strong growth in Q3 2024.

  • Denmark: active player numbers increased 129%, deposits increased 213% and GGR climbed 200%.
  • Sweden: active player numbers increased 85%, deposits increased 129% and GGR climbed 58%.

Soft2Bet SiGMA Speakers

Soft2Bet’s founder and CEO, Uri Poliavich, will deliver an exclusive Keynote on 12 November at 11:45 where he will update the market on his latest insights.

Senior executives will be joining key industry panels:

  • David Yatom Hay, General Counsel, will join a panel discussing the future of player protections in light of potential advertising bans in Northern Europe.
  • Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer, will lead a discussion on using collectables to enhance loyalty programmes and increase player retention.

Expansion and growth

Soft2Bet is rapidly expanding and holds more than 13 licences across nine different jurisdictions, while launches in Romania (Don.ro) and Ontario, Canada (Tooniebet), and upcoming expansions into Mexico, Greece and Nigeria demonstrate the company’s continued focus on growing its commercial and regulatory footprint.

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Conferences in Europe

SiGMA Europe Summit Alert

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Endorphina is a B2B online slots provider based in Prague, Czech Republic. Up and running since 2012, we operate under the Malta License MGA and release at least 12 thrilling slots every year. In total, we have developed 90 games, including the popular over the world Golden Ox slot machines, Chance Machine 20, 2020 Hit slot, The Rise of AI, 100 Zombies, Buffalo 50, and many more. When it comes to fairness, Endorphina is known to be rigorously tested in 2019 by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) to ensure consistent and proven behavior and mathematics.

Endorphina Slot Games

Endorphina games are executed in perfect modern graphics, with original music, thoughtful game elements and a set of exciting features, which make them stand out from the competition. There is a theme crafted for everyone, from old-time classic fruity slots to cultural highlights and to modern themes to keep up with the times. High rollers and beginners will find their favorite games with us at Endorphina. We’ve established ourselves on the market all games can be played on both desktops and mobile devices.

A 2020 wrap-up

In 2020, Endorphina has released 18 catchy games that have successfully caught the attention of users worldwide. As we usually release 12 games each year, 2020 was definitely a highlight as we released 6 more! More than 1,000 online casinos currently house Endorphina games and we have over 50 new affiliates around the world and counting.

As we put forth new games every month, we also love expanding and entering new markets. This past year in 2020, we entered the markets of Romania, Croatia, and Belarus. In the first quarter of 2021, we have successfully partnered with over 75 online casinos worldwide.

Main growth indicators

When it comes to growth overall in 2020, we’ve noticed an increase in Total Bets made by our players in euros (including Q1 of 2021).

There was also a handful of spin gains (total number of spins) as a percentage for the last year (including Q1 2021).

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Conferences in Europe

Almost 200 Participants Grace European Gaming Congress 2024, as Organizers Already Plan Warsaw Return

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Almost 200 Participants Grace European Gaming Congress 2024, as Organizers Already Plan Warsaw Return
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HIPTHER, organizer of the European Gaming Congress (EGC) and other renowned GameTech boutique conferences, is thrilled to announce the triumphant success of EGC 2024 and the exciting news of the conference’s return to Warsaw in 2025.

Building on the momentum from its 2023 edition, European Gaming Congress 2024 expanded its program into a multi-faceted, 2-day agenda packed with learning and networking opportunities. Attendance more than doubled to nearly 200 delegates, and all exhibitor spaces sold out.

EGC 2024 brought together the vibrant Polish iGaming market and the broader European GameTech industry for a series of insightful panels, unique networking opportunities, and unforgettable moments. The event educated and connected delegates in a meaningful and constructive way.

Distinguished experts from iGaming, Compliance, Technology, Blockchain, Fintech, Marketing, and Human Capital Management took the stage, offering invaluable insights and hosting workshops on the latest trends and strategies for business growth and success.

In an innovative move to validate expertise and reward continuous learning, all attendees were awarded a Certificate of Professional Distinction for their successful participation in the European Gaming Congress 2024.

One of the event’s highlights was the prestigious European iGaming Excellence Awards 2024, celebrating the best companies and brightest professionals in the European iGaming industry, as voted by their peers. And the winners are:

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đ’đźđ©đ©đ„đąđžđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Promatic Group

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐱𝐧𝐠 đ‹đšđ›đšđ«đšđ­đšđ«đČ 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Gaming Laboratories International, LLC

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐚đČ𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭 đđ«đšđŻđąđđžđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: CoinsPaid

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đđ«đšđđźđœđ­ 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Miss Joker Show (by Promatic Group)

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 đ‚đźđŹđ­đšđŠđžđ« đ’đžđ«đŻđąđœđž 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: SOFTSWISS Managed Services

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 đŒđšđ«đ€đžđ­đąđ§đ  đ‚đšđŠđ©đšđąđ đ§ 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Evoplay (Adrenaline Rush)

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 đ‘đžđŹđ©đšđ§đŹđąđ›đ„đž 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đđ«đšđ đ«đšđŠ 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Mindway AI

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐞 đƒđžđŻđžđ„đšđ©đžđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Evoplay

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 đ„đŠđžđ«đ đąđ§đ  𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đ‚đšđŠđ©đšđ§đČ 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Promatic Group

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 đŒđšđ›đąđ„đž 𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đđ«đšđŻđąđđžđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Evoplay

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐱𝐯𝐞 đƒđžđšđ„đžđ« đđ«đšđŻđąđđžđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: ICONIC21

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đ€đŸđŸđąđ„đąđšđ­đž đđ«đšđ đ«đšđŠ 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: N1 Partners Group

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 đžđ’đ©đšđ«đ­đŹ 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐱𝐧𝐠 đđ«đšđŻđąđđžđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: DATA.BET

🏆 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐹𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐱𝐹𝐧 𝐱𝐧 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đ“đžđœđĄđ§đšđ„đšđ đČ 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: SOFTSWISS

🏆 đ‚đšđŠđ©đšđ§đČ 𝐋𝐚𝐼𝐧𝐜𝐡 𝐹𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 đ˜đžđšđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Xanada Investments

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đŽđ©đžđ«đšđ­đšđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Superbet

🏆 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đ‹đžđšđđžđ« 𝐹𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 đ˜đžđšđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Ivan Montik, Founder at SOFTSWISS

🏆 𝐑𝐱𝐬𝐱𝐧𝐠 đ’đ­đšđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Gal Ehrlich, CEO at BETER

🏆 đˆđ§đ§đšđŻđšđ­đšđ« 𝐹𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 đ˜đžđšđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Ivan Kravchuk, CEO at Evoplay

🏆 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 đˆđ§đŸđ„đźđžđ§đœđžđ« 𝐹𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 đ˜đžđšđ« 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Valentina Bagniya, CMO at SOFTSWISS

🏆 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐱𝐆𝐚𝐩𝐱𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐱𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒: Aleksandra Mouton, CEO at Amarix

 

The illustrious event was Sponsored by top-tier companies, including:

  • Promatic Games by Promatic Group – Platinum & Welcome Meet Sponsor
  • Xanada Investments – Main Stage Sponsor
  • BET – Badge, Bracelet and Networking Break Sponsor
  • NSoft – Pen and Paper Sponsor
  • Nordic Gambling – Scandinavian Legal Expertise Sponsor
  • RM Legal – General Sponsor
  • Gaming In Poland – General Sponsor
  • Zondacrypto – Selfie Mirror Sponsor
  • Superbet – General Sponsor
  • LV Bet – General Sponsor
  • PIGBRiB – General Sponsor

The European Gaming Congress has been warmly embraced by both the Polish gaming market and the wider European iGaming industry, solidifying its status as a must-attend event and key meeting point for the industry.

Zoltan Tuendik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, commented: “We are thrilled with the incredible success of the European Gaming Congress 2024, and we are grateful to our esteemed sponsors, participants, and the remarkable Polish Gaming Community who made it possible. We’re excited to announce our return to Warsaw for another year, but stay tuned – we have a few surprises in the works for the years ahead!”.

The #hipthers team is already planning the grand return of the European Gaming Congress to Warsaw in mid-to-late October 2025. Stay tuned for more, and we’ll see you in Warsaw!

 

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