European gambling operators face new EU AML rules from July 2027
Due diligence kicks in at €2,000 under Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, effective 10 July 2027
Key Takeaways
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 will apply generally from 10 July 2027.
- Due diligence for gambling services is triggered when bets or prize payouts reach €2,000 or more, in a single or linked transactions.
- AMLA finalised and sent three draft regulatory technical standards to the European Commission on 1 October 2026.
- Member States may grant full or partial exemptions only when low risk is demonstrated under the regulation's conditions.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 imposes customer due diligence obligations on gambling operators and will apply generally from 10 July 2027. The rule sets a threshold of €2.000: due diligence requirements are triggered when bets, prize payouts, or both reach €2.000 or more, whether in a single transaction or in linked transactions.
What does the regulation require of the gambling sector?
Published in June 2024, the regulation introduces specific identification and verification conditions for gambling services when the €2.000 threshold is met. Practical obligations operators should review include:
Determining when customer identification and verification measures are necessary.
Implementing risk-based controls to assess money laundering and terrorist financing risks.
Monitoring transactions to detect linked activity and operations that exceed the established thresholds.
The text allows Member States to grant full or partial exemptions to certain gambling service providers if they demonstrate, under conditions set by the regulation, that their risk is low; such exemptions are not automatic nor universally applicable across the sector.
Practical limits: no default verification before the first bet
The €2.000 threshold rule should not be read as a universal obligation to verify every customer before their first bet. The regulation defines specific circumstances for applying due diligence and requires implementation of monitoring and detection measures for linked transactions in line with those conditions.
Technical recommendations and industry view
Deloitte, in its analysis of the AML impact on the gambling sector, identifies key areas operators must improve: customer identification, transaction monitoring, data integration and risk assessment. Dániel Bognár, Director of Deloitte Central Europe’s Gambling Centre of Excellence, said:
“The challenge is not only meeting the new AML requirements. It is doing so while preserving the customer experience.” — Dániel Bognár, Director, Deloitte Central Europe’s Gambling Centre of Excellence
These observations underscore the need for operators to balance controls and user experience when adapting internal processes.
AMLA progress and regulatory timeline
The European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) finalised three draft regulatory technical standards for the private sector on 1 October 2026. Those drafts cover identification of business relationships and linked transactions, customer due diligence, and group-level AML arrangements. AMLA sent the drafts to the European Commission, and their applicability will depend on subsequent adoption and publication procedures.
Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 will be directly applicable in Member States from 10 July 2027; provisions deriving from Directive (EU) 2024/1640 will follow a separate national transposition process. Operators should review their AML programmes, due diligence procedures, transaction-monitoring systems and risk assessments before the entry-into-force date. [Regulators and compliance teams can consult sector guidance on regulation](/regulation) and operators offering casino services should check system impacts on player flows in [casino](/casino).
Author: Miguel Sandoval, Regulatory Correspondent.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 start applying to the gambling sector?
Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 will apply generally from 10 July 2027; it was published in June 2024 and imposes direct obligations on operators in Member States.
What operation triggers the due diligence obligation under the regulation?
The due diligence obligation is triggered when bets, prize payouts, or both reach €2,000 or more, either in a single transaction or in linked transactions; that €2,000 threshold is the concrete criterion set by the regulation.
What has AMLA done regarding the technical implementation of the rule?
The European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) finalised three draft regulatory technical standards on 1 October 2026 covering business-relationship identification and linked transactions, customer due diligence, and group AML arrangements, and sent them to the European Commission.
Can gambling operators avoid applying due diligence in all cases?
No, exemptions are not automatic. Member States may grant full or partial exemptions only if low risk is demonstrated and the conditions set by the regulation are met; the regulation requires documentation of risks and applied controls.
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About the author
Miguel Sandoval
Regulatory Affairs Correspondent
Miguel Sandoval tracks gambling legislation, licensing, and regulator enforcement — from Spain's DGOJ and the Latin American authorities to the UKGC, the MGA, and the state-by-state map in North America. The reports answer three questions precisely — what changed, where, and who it affects — with jurisdictions, dates, and penalties cited exactly as published. Operators and compliance officers read Miguel Sandoval to know which rulebook moved before their next meeting.
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