In Morocco, casinos are being tracked down

This decision follows suspicions raised by the National Financial Intelligence Authority (ANRF) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (CRF) regarding the origin and destination of the funds circulating in these establishments, reports the newspaper Al Akhbar.

During the presentation of his department’s budget before Parliament, Mr. Laftit confirmed that all transactions carried out in casinos and gaming platforms were now scrutinized in detail. Preventive measures have been put in place to curb this phenomenon. This initiative is part of a desire to respond to the criticisms made by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in a recent report on the fight against money laundering.

To read: Morocco: casinos under close surveillance

Concretely, a joint circular from the Ministries of the Interior and Finance has been signed and circulated to regulate the control procedures for casinos. Between April and September 2024, seven control operations were carried out in as many casinos by the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) and the Foreign Exchange Office, in collaboration with the Ministries of the Interior and Economy and Finance.

In addition, the Ministry of the Interior, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, is conducting an in-depth assessment of the services offered by casinos and gaming platforms in order to identify the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing.