As online transactions become central to gaming operations, the demand for a tighter Anti-Money Laundering (AML) framework is growing rapidly. For iGaming operators working across Europe and Asia, managing compliance is becoming more challenging day by day. Each country has its own rules, standards, and oversight methods, making it tough for operators to maintain consistent controls and effectively manage risks across multiple markets.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has identified online gambling and digital assets as growing channels for illegal money flows, especially in places where enforcement of AML and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) rules is uneven. According to its 2025 update on virtual assets and service providers (VASPs), many jurisdictions have failed to fully implement key FATF principles, such as the Travel Rule and complete licensing systems, resulting in regulatory gaps that raise cross-border risk.
At the same time, the European Union has made important progress towards alignment through several AML Directives (AMLDs) and the setup of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), creating a standard for more unified global oversight.
A new report from the Association of Certified Gaming Compliance Specialists (ACGCS), titled “Global AML Compliance in Gaming: Navigating Divergent Regulatory Expectations,” says operators are now facing a growing mix of complicated rules across different regions, making compliance and risk management harder to handle. The report also points out that major markets like the UK, Australia, and Macau have recently issued record fines for AML breaches, a sign that regulators worldwide are becoming tougher and more watchful of the gaming industry.
Against this evolving backdrop, SiGMA News exclusively spoke to Sona Kirakosyan, Head of Technical Monitoring and Compliance Unit at TotoGaming, who shared her perspective on how harmonising AML standards and addressing digital payment challenges are key to building a resilient compliance ecosystem in gaming.
Harmonising AML standards across borders
Speaking on the need for aligned AML frameworks, Kirakosyan stated that harmonisation enhances both efficiency and compliance confidence for operators working across jurisdictions. She explained, “Harmonisation of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards greatly enhances efficiency and reduces regulatory risk for cross-border gaming operators.”
“Aligned AML requirements allow companies to implement consistent procedures for customer due diligence, risk assessment, transaction monitoring, and reporting. To operate efficiently, operators need a comprehensive AML platform that enables automated screenings, ongoing monitoring, transaction alerts, and centralised reporting.”
She pointed out that pan-European operators benefit from the EU AML Directives (AMLD), which provide unified standards across Member States. “A centralised system under these harmonised rules streamlines operations, reduces duplication, lowers compliance costs, and mitigates the risk of regulatory breaches,” she said.
In contrast, Kirakosyan emphasised that in many Asian markets, AML regulations remain fragmented and enforcement varies significantly. “This increases complexity, costs, and exposure to non-compliance. Harmonised procedures allow operators to manage multiple jurisdictions through a single platform, ensuring consistent compliance, faster detection of suspicious activity, and more efficient cross-border operations,” she added.
Role of digital wallets & crypto in AML compliance
Kirakosyan also highlighted how innovations such as digital wallets and cryptocurrencies have introduced new layers of complexity to AML oversight. “Digital wallets and cryptocurrencies introduce new AML challenges for gaming operators due to anonymity, pseudonymity, rapid transactions, and cross-border flows, which make customer identification and suspicious activity detection more difficult,” she explained.
To address these challenges, she explained that operators need to focus on strong, technology-driven safeguards.“Effective mitigation requires setting transaction limits, both one-time and cumulative, that act as triggers for enhanced KYC and risk-based customer profiling, including verification of identity and source of funds. Automated transaction monitoring, supported by AI and analytics, helps detect unusual patterns such as rapid transfers, structuring, or attempts to obscure transaction sources,” she said.
Kirakosyan further noted that regulators are beginning to respond through measures such as the Travel Rule, which mandates information sharing for cryptocurrency transfers. “However, as crypto is still relatively new, regulators often face difficulties issuing detailed, practical implementation guidelines, creating compliance uncertainties for both operators and their payment providers,” she said.
As global regulators move toward tightening oversight and standardising compliance frameworks, the convergence of AML standards could help operators reduce duplication and enhance efficiency.
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