Will the independent Commission of Inquiry into Money Laundering in British Columbia result in Delta’s new casino going cashless?
It’s an idea that had been put forward by the city last year as a way to combat money laundering in local casinos, but the province has given no indication it's something being considered.
Delta had asked the federal and provincial governments to undertake a joint review of cashless gaming systems in casinos in order to assess their effectiveness in preventing money laundering compared to current regulations.
“One solution to the problem of money laundering in casinos is the use of card-based technologies instead of cash. This concept is gaining traction in casinos around the world where the benefits for players and casino operators are being recognized, including convenience, enhanced personal safety and financial transparency,” a staff report explained.
“Cashless systems require an account that is linked to the individual player whose identity has been verified. This means that gambling data can be tracked, and money transactions are transparent, thereby limiting opportunities for crime such as money laundering. Funds can be moved electronically between the account and all gaming devices in the casino.”
Last summer, Delta Police Chief Neil Dubord gave a presentation to council on his department’s examination of security for B.C. Casinos and safety concerns for Delta’s casino.
He noted account-based player tracking technology at B.C. casinos already exist including verifying player identity, verifying sources of funds, tracking gambling transactions to individual gamblers and real time data.
Meanwhile, preliminary policy changes related to suspicious transactions and reporting has had and will continue to have a significant impact on money laundering in casinos, he explained, measures that include a source of funds requirement being implemented.
Wholesale implementation of the 48 German Report recommendations is in progress, led by provincial government in coordination with the B.C. Lotter Corporation, said Dubord.
Delta new casino, which includes a 116-room hotel, is set to open next year
He said Delta wants to develop information sharing agreements relative to suspicious transactions and other public safety-related information between Delta Police and law enforcement partners specific to the Delta Casino.
B.C. Attorney General David Eby recently sent a letter responding Mayor George Harvie correspondence which conveyed concern about money laundering in casinos as well as organized crime.
Eby noted the recommendations from the Peter German Report are helping the government craft actions on the issue of money laundering and that his ministry received a commitment from the solicitor general for ongoing support of the Joint Illegal Gaming Investigations Team’s mandate, which will be reviewed in the next several months to determine what can be accomplished in its five-year scope.
Although Eby gave no indication cashless casinos were being considered, he acknowledged the Lower Mainland “has been greatly impacted by this criminal activity and I agree that we urgently need more federal resources to ensure proper enforcement.”
Gateway Casino & Entertainment Ltd plans to open the new Cascades Casino Delta by mid-to-late 2021.
The $87-million casino and hotel complex is being built at the old Town & Country Inn site in Ladner.
The facility will include a 40,000-square-foot gaming floor with up to 600 slot machines and 30 gaming tables, as well as several eateries.
