Morocco intensifies oversight of casinos to combat money laundering

Abdelouafi Laftit, Morocco's Minister of the Interior, has announced enhanced surveillance and control measures for casinos and gambling platforms to combat money laundering risks. According to local journal Al Akhbar, this initiative follows suspicions raised by the National Financial Intelligence Authority (ANRF) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (CRF) regarding the sources and destinations of funds circulating in these establishments.

During a parliamentary session focused on his department's budget, Laftit confirmed that all transactions conducted by casinos and gambling platforms are now under rigorous scrutiny. A series of preventive measures have been adopted to address deficiencies highlighted in a recent report from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) concerning anti-money laundering efforts. This includes the signing of a joint circular by the Ministries of Interior and Finance, outlining the control mechanisms for casinos.

From April to September 2024, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) and the Office of Foreign Exchange conducted seven on-site inspections across various casinos. The Ministry is also undertaking a thorough evaluation of services offered by the casino sector to assess their potential for misuse in money laundering or terrorism financing. This assessment aims to identify specific risks associated with these establishments.

The decision to tighten control over casinos comes amid significant efforts by authorities to improve compliance with international standards on anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. The report presented to Parliament emphasized the importance of information sharing between casinos and authorities during financial investigations, highlighting ongoing workshops aimed at raising awareness among casino employees about their responsibilities in this regard.