- Overview and Legal Basis
Grosvenor Casino Walsall is a licensed land-based casino premises operated by Grosvenor Casinos Limited, located at Bentley Mill Way, Walsall, WS2 0LE. The premises hold a casino licence issued under the authority of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council and are registered on the UK Gambling Commission public register under Grosvenor Casinos Limited, with head office at Rank Group, TOR, Saint-Cloud Way, Maidenhead, SL6 8BN, United Kingdom.
As a licensed casino operator in Great Britain, Grosvenor Casinos Limited is required to comply with the following legislation and regulatory frameworks:
- Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
- Terrorism Act 2000
- Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017
- UK Gambling Commission Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP)
- UK Gambling Commission AML guidance for remote and non-remote casinos
This document sets out the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) obligations that apply to Grosvenor Casino Walsall and to customers who visit or engage with the premises.
- Scope of Application
The AML and KYC framework described in this document applies to all customers who access Grosvenor Casino Walsall. AML and KYC controls are administered at group level by Grosvenor Casinos Limited and The Rank Group Plc and are applied consistently across all Grosvenor-branded premises, including the Walsall venue. No separate standalone AML policy exists exclusively for the Walsall premises. All obligations derive from group-level compliance systems and applicable UK law.
- Customer Identity Verification (KYC)
3.1 Registration and Identity Requirements
All customers are required to register upon their first visit to Grosvenor Casino Walsall. Registration requires the presentation of valid photographic identification. Entry to the premises and participation in casino gaming are conditional on successful identity verification.
The minimum age for entry and participation in gambling at Grosvenor Casino Walsall is 18 years. Underage gambling is a criminal offence under UK law. Age verification is conducted as part of the registration process and may be repeated at any point during a customer’s visit or relationship with the premises.
3.2 Identity and Source of Funds Checks
In accordance with AML obligations and the group’s privacy and data processing framework, Grosvenor Casinos Limited may request the following from customers at any stage of the relationship:
- Proof of identity (photographic identification documents)
- Proof of address
- Evidence of source of funds
- Evidence of source of wealth, where applicable
Customers are required to provide this information promptly when requested. Failure to provide required documentation may result in suspension of access to gaming or other services at the premises.
To verify identity, check age, and assess source of funds, Grosvenor Casinos Limited may obtain information from external third-party data providers. This process is conducted in accordance with the group’s privacy and data protection obligations.
3.3 Enhanced Due Diligence
Where a customer is identified as presenting a higher risk of money laundering or terrorist financing, enhanced due diligence measures are applied. This may include more detailed source-of-funds assessments, increased monitoring of transactions, and escalation to compliance personnel. The determination of higher-risk status is made on a risk-sensitive basis consistent with UK Gambling Commission guidance and the group’s internal AML risk assessment.
- Anti-Money Laundering Controls
4.1 Risk Assessment
Grosvenor Casinos Limited maintains an ongoing money laundering and terrorist financing risk assessment covering its licensed premises, including Grosvenor Casino Walsall. This assessment is reviewed and updated in line with changes to the regulatory environment, emerging risks identified by the UK Gambling Commission, and internal compliance findings.
4.2 Transaction Monitoring
Customer activity at Grosvenor Casino Walsall is subject to ongoing monitoring for indicators of potential money laundering or terrorist financing. Indicators that may trigger review include, but are not limited to:
- Large cash transactions inconsistent with stated or apparent source of funds
- Patterns of play that appear designed to convert cash into chips or vouchers with minimal gaming activity
- Rapid deposits followed by withdrawal requests without corresponding gaming activity
- Transactions involving amounts or patterns inconsistent with a customer’s known profile
4.3 Suspicious Activity Reporting
Where staff at Grosvenor Casino Walsall identify or reasonably suspect that a transaction or pattern of activity may be connected to money laundering or terrorist financing, this is reported internally through the group’s compliance structure. Where required by law, a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) is submitted to the relevant UK financial intelligence authority. Staff are trained to identify and escalate suspicious activity in accordance with internal procedures and UK legal requirements.
4.4 Prohibition on Use of Services for Unlawful Purposes
Customers are prohibited from using Grosvenor Casino Walsall for money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, or any other unlawful activity. Where Grosvenor Casinos Limited identifies or suspects conduct of this nature, it reserves the right to disclose relevant information to regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, and other licensed operators, as permitted or required by law.
- Data Retention
Customer data collected for AML and KYC purposes is retained for a period of seven years from the date on which the customer relationship ends. This retention period is applied to satisfy regulatory obligations under UK anti-money laundering legislation. Data is processed and retained in accordance with the group’s privacy and data protection policy.
- Regulatory Oversight and Compliance History
Grosvenor Casino Walsall operates under the ongoing supervision of the UK Gambling Commission. The Commission has previously published a case study identifying AML shortcomings at Grosvenor Casinos Limited in relation to a high-value customer. The identified failings included insufficient timeliness in identity verification, inadequate source-of-funds assessment, and failure to act appropriately on staff suspicions.
As part of agreed remedial actions, Rank Group undertook a critical review of AML controls led by an external provider, submitted to a third-party audit of revised AML arrangements, surrendered an estimated £950,000 in profits arising from the identified shortcomings for socially responsible purposes, and paid the Commission’s investigation costs. The UK Gambling Commission confirmed it would continue to monitor whether appropriate and risk-sensitive AML policies and procedures are followed effectively across Grosvenor’s operations.
- Responsible Gambling and AML Interaction
AML controls at Grosvenor Casino Walsall operate alongside the group’s responsible gambling obligations under the LCCP. Customer due diligence processes may also identify indicators of gambling-related harm. Where such indicators are identified, they are addressed through the group’s responsible gambling framework, which is separate from but complementary to AML procedures.
Customers seeking assistance with gambling-related concerns may contact GambleAware on 0808 8020 133.
- Contact and Compliance Enquiries
For enquiries relating to identity verification or data processing at Grosvenor Casino Walsall, customers may contact the venue directly at:
Grosvenor Casino Walsall
Bentley Mill Way
Walsall
WS2 0LE
Telephone: 01922 645222
For data protection matters, including those related to AML and KYC data processing, the group’s Data Protection Officer may be contacted at:
Data Protection Officer
Rank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited
c/o TOR, Saint Cloud Way
Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 8BN
Email: [email protected]