The Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) announced that it has penalized Celton Manx Limited due to AML failings. Due to the severity of the violations, the operator will have to pay a significant fine.
The GSC Uncovered Systemic Violations
According to the announcement, the GSC, which is tasked with protecting the Isle of Man gaming sector from fraud and crime, had launched a regulatory anti-money laundering inspection into Celton Manx. The probe uncovered significant violations of the Gambling (Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism) Code 2019, prompting intervention.
Following the inspection, the GSC launched an investigation into the extent of Celton Manx’s failings. Due to the severity of some of the violations, the regulator levied a fine of £5,625,000 ($7.7 million) against Celton Manx. However, since the GSC also acknowledged certain mitigating factors, it opted to provide a 30% discount.
As a result, Celton Manx will have to pay a civil penalty of £3,937,500 ($5.4 million).
The Operator’s AML Measures Were Insufficient
The GSC provided further clarification, saying that its initial AML inspection was launched in October 2024. The regulator also mentioned that the violations it identified were of a systemic nature.
Among other things, Celton Manx failed to prove that its Network Partners were compliant with the Isle of Man code. In addition to that, the operator’s monitoring efforts were found to be lacking. To make matters worse, Celton Manx could not prove that it carried out AML assessments to prevent money laundering or the financing of terrorism.
On the flipside, the operator was quick to acknowledge the shortcomings. According to the GSC, Celton Manx was cooperative with the regulator and sought an expeditious resolution to the matter. This was a major mitigating factor and a part of the reason for the penalty discount.
Celton Manx surrendered its GSC license in May 2025 after having operated under the GSC’s jurisdiction for some 17 years.
GSC Remains Committed to Preventing Crime
A month ago, the Isle of Man GSC provided its staff with training on recognizing and preventing modern slavery amid continued human trafficking concerns. The session featured lived experience individuals who taught GSC members on identifying the signs of slavery and intervening properly.
This came shortly after the launch of the Isle’s National Risk Appetite Statement, which highlighted the island’s commitment to preventing online gambling-related crime.