Casino money laundering probe ambushes British Columbia Lottery, resulting in CA$1M fine

B.C. Lottery Corporation Challenges $782,000 Fine in Federal Court

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation (BCLC) has taken the federal government to court, filing a notice of appeal last week in Federal Court over a US$782,000 fine. The fine, imposed by a federal financial watchdog earlier this year, was for alleged violations of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act.

The appeal is directed towards Fintrac, and the BCLC is accusing them of wrongful penalties. The corporation claims it was "ambushed" by Fintrac without a chance to correct alleged misunderstandings.

The alleged violations occurred within the casino and gaming industry, and the appeal is over three specific instances. However, the exact dates of the specific incidents of the violations were not specified in the publicly available reports.

The BCLC is a state-owned corporation, and as such, it is a significant player in the Canadian gaming industry. The case is being handled by Darryl Greer of The Canadian Press.

The B.C. Lottery Corp. alleges it was not properly notified of an examination that led to the fine, and it was only given a short time to respond. This has led to the corporation's belief that the fine was unjust.

The federal government and Fintrac have yet to comment on the appeal. The case is being heard in Federal Court, and a ruling is expected in the coming months. This development comes at a time when the gaming industry is under increased scrutiny for its role in money laundering and terrorist financing.

As the case unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the specific allegations against the BCLC and the actions of Fintrac. Until then, the appeal will be closely watched by industry stakeholders and observers alike.