The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has published a new global assessment examining emerging financial crime risks across Gaming and related digital platforms.

Released on September 9, the study draws on questionnaire responses from 80 jurisdictions, written submissions from 29 jurisdictions, as well as consultations with industry groups, researchers and private-sector stakeholders.

The project expands on FATF’s earlier work from 2009 and represents its first detailed examination of risks associated with online and unauthorized Gaming environments.

Digital payments increase cross-border complexity

One of the key areas highlighted by FATF is the rapid expansion of digital payment channels.

As online platforms become increasingly cross-border and interconnected, users can access a wider range of payment methods including e-wallets, mobile money and virtual assets.

These technologies provide greater payment flexibility but can also increase compliance complexity, particularly when funds move rapidly between jurisdictions or different forms of value.

FATF also noted that today's digital Gaming ecosystem increasingly connects platforms with payment providers, social media, digital marketplaces, software companies and other third-party services.

As a result, effective AML controls increasingly require cooperation beyond individual operators or financial institutions.

New risk indicators introduced

Alongside its findings, FATF introduced new risk indicators designed to help regulators, compliance teams and private-sector businesses identify potentially suspicious activity.

Examples include unusual deposits followed by withdrawals with limited platform activity, repeated small transactions below reporting thresholds, discrepancies between registered users and payment accounts, multiple accounts connected to the same device or IP address, and complex ownership structures that obscure beneficial ownership.

The report also identifies inadequate oversight of third-party and white-label arrangements as a potential vulnerability, highlighting the growing importance of due diligence throughout the wider technology and service-provider ecosystem.

Stronger international cooperation becomes increasingly important

FATF recommends stronger licensing and registration standards alongside greater information sharing between regulators, law enforcement agencies and private-sector participants.

Importantly, the organization supports a risk-based approach, recognising that different Gaming products and business models do not necessarily present the same level of financial crime exposure.

As Gaming services continue to become more digital and international, AML controls, payment transparency and cross-border regulatory cooperation are likely to play an increasingly important role in the industry's compliance landscape.