Tensions Emerge in BCLC Money Laundering Probe

A recent update to British Columbia’s Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering has revealed growing friction between the British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC), the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB), and other government agencies involved in combating financial crime within the province's casinos.

• Testimonies highlighted that from 2010 to 2017, large volumes of $20 bills were frequently accepted at B.C. casinos. The peak occurred in 2015, coinciding with an RCMP investigation into an underground bank believed to have laundered over $200 million annually .

• Despite previous fines in 2010 for failures in anti-money laundering (AML) reporting and the implementation of voluntary player account systems, the same cash-heavy patterns continued largely unchallenged .

• Reports revealed that casino operators resisted allowing BCLC or GPEB to interview high-stakes players, fearing a loss of revenue. There was also confusion over which agency had the true regulatory authority to intervene directly .