UK Bookmaker to pay victim of crime his money back

Coral agree £846,600 payout after investigation
BY JACK HAYNES 11:11AM 27 APR 2016
GALA CORAL GROUP LTD have agreed to forfeit more than £846,000 and take steps to improve their anti-money laundering and social responsibility processes following a Gambling Commission investigation.

The investigation related to the manner in which two of Gala Coral Group Ltd's divisions, Coral Racing Limited and Gala Interactive, handled their relationship with a man who was jailed for three years after admitting to stealing £800,000 from a vulnerable adult.

The man had been a retail customer of Gala Coral Group since 2012 and was an online customer between January 2014 and January 2015.

As part of the settlement, Gala Coral have agreed to pay £846,600 to the man's victim - the amount he lost through gambling with the operator.

Richard Watson, programme director at the Commission, hopes this case will remind firms it is "their responsibility to keep crime out of gambling".

Watson said: "We expect the industry will learn the lessons from this case, as it is their responsibility to keep crime out of gambling and protect vulnerable people from harm.

"We know that Gala Coral have reflected heavily on this case and have assured us of actions they have taken to address the failings.

"Operators must proactively monitor customers to keep gambling safe and free from crime."

Previous case

In March Paddy Power paid £280,000 to socially responsible causes after the Gambling Commission identified "serious failings" in the bookmaker's efforts to keep crime out of gambling and protect the vulnerable.

The company admitted the three cases involved were "clearly unacceptable" and promised to improve their anti-money laundering and social-responsibility processes.