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B.C. Lottery Corp. Appeals $1.08 Million FINTRAC Penalty in Federal Court

BCLC alleges the watchdog misapplied AML indicators in a case built on one high‑volume slot patron.

Overview

  • BCLC filed its appeal on Aug. 20 seeking to set aside, reduce, or have the penalties remitted to FINTRAC’s director for reconsideration.
  • FINTRAC assessed $1,075,000 in administrative penalties tied to three alleged breaches: missing a suspicious transaction report, outdated compliance policies, and failing to take special measures for a high‑risk client.
  • The appeal says FINTRAC focused on an unnamed top slot player flagged for frequent $100‑bill use and drew a subjective conclusion that the patron gambled too much.
  • BCLC argues it was not told it was under examination, describes the process as an ambush, and says FINTRAC overlooked linguistic and cultural factors when judging the patron’s responses.
  • FINTRAC says it upholds compliance through appropriate actions; BCLC says it provided information counter to the findings, and the case now awaits proceedings in Federal Court.