22 April 2025: Isle of Man Continues to target transnational criminal actors, UNODC reports

A recent UNODC report has highlighted the Isle of Man’s involvement in combatting the ongoing threat of transnational organised crime in Southeast Asia.

Online gaming and gambling platforms are reported to be at the centre point of the increasingly complex and sophisticated criminal landscape in East and Southeast Asia. That landscape has extended outside of East and Southeast Asia, impacting countries worldwide. The report published this month highlights the emerging threat and provides important information that gambling operators and regulated businesses that support them can use to strengthen the Island’s AML/CFT/CPF controls.

Information and intelligence are essential factors in identifying connections to illicit activity and bad actors. The GSC have mechanisms in place to share such information with law enforcement and other regulators both domestically and internationally and have recently expanded those powers through new legislation. Regulated businesses should be aware of how and when to share information with regulators and through formal intelligence mechanisms and have robust processes in place to identify new and emerging threats.

Amongst the jurisdictional risk the report also highlighted emerging risks from technology such as cryptocurrencies, online marketplaces and blockchain networks, online payment mechanisms and identity laundering.

The GSC takes information from international bodies such as UNODC very seriously and continues to work together with other agencies to target transnational criminal activity in the gambling sector and beyond through a coordinated approach. The Isle of Man Government, and all its relevant agencies and bodies, has a zero-tolerance attitude towards criminal activity.

Significant and wide-reaching action is ongoing to ensure the GSC identify and mitigate such threats and we will not hesitate to use our regulatory authority to support law enforcement to halt those who engage in criminal activity in the Island.

Serious and organised transnational crime is a global threat, and the GSC is committed to playing its part in disrupting this activity and preventing the Island and the sector from being exploited. Reports such as these improve situational awareness of intensifying global impacts and implications of transnational crime and inform regulators of new and emerging threats.