FATF has updated its high-risk jurisdictions lists, with implications for gambling operators' anti-money laundering compliance and customer due diligence procedures.
The Danish Gambling Authority has issued a compliance alert regarding updated Financial Action Task Force (FATF) high-risk jurisdiction lists, reinforcing operators' obligations to incorporate these designations into player risk assessment frameworks.
The Grey List – jurisdictions under increased monitoring – now includes 24 territories: Algeria, Angola, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Laos, Lebanon, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), and Yemen.
The Black List maintains three jurisdictions requiring enhanced countermeasures: Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, and Myanmar.
| List Type | Jurisdictions | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Grey List | 24 territories including Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, Nigeria, South Africa | Increased monitoring |
| Black List | North Korea, Iran, Myanmar | Enhanced countermeasures |
24
Territories on Grey List
3
Jurisdictions on Black List
Under Section 17(1) of the Danish Anti-Money Laundering Act, gambling operators must conduct enhanced customer due diligence (EDD) when players present elevated money laundering or terrorist financing risks. Risk assessments must reference Annex 3 factors, including FATF high-risk country designations.
This compliance framework aligns with broader European efforts, as seen in AMLA's consultations on AML rules for gambling sector, which aims to harmonize anti-money laundering standards across EU member states.
Important
FATF listing alone does not automatically trigger EDD requirements. Enhanced due diligence becomes mandatory only for players from jurisdictions on the EU Regulation High Risk Third Country list under Section 17(2).
This update requires operators to review and potentially adjust their risk assessment matrices and compliance procedures. The distinction between FATF listings and EU regulatory requirements underscores the importance of precise compliance interpretation in multi-jurisdictional frameworks.
Similar regulatory vigilance has been demonstrated by the Malta Gaming Authority in addressing unauthorised gambling websites, highlighting the ongoing commitment to maintaining compliance standards across European jurisdictions.
Compliance Action Required
Operators should immediately review their risk assessment matrices and compliance procedures to ensure proper distinction between FATF listings and EU regulatory requirements for enhanced due diligence triggers.
According to Danish Gambling Authority.
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Written by
Olga SvichkarFounder & Content Director
Olga founded We–Right™ Factory in 2012 and has been building iGaming content systems ever since. She oversees editorial strategy, quality standards, and multilingual content operations across 29+ markets. On iGamingWriter.blog, Olga writes about content architecture, team workflows, and what it actually takes to produce compliant iGaming copy at scale.
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