River Rock Casino patron fails in bid to have B.C. judge remove lottery corp.'s restrictions
A River Rock Casino patron's attempt to overturn restrictions imposed by the B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) due to suspected money laundering was dismissed by a judge.Summary
A patron of the River Rock Casino, Ali Ghotaymi, sought a judicial review of the B.C. Lottery Corporation’s (BCLC) decision to require him to prove the source of his large cash buy-ins. Ghotaymi argued the requirement unfairly stigmatized him as a money launderer and was unreasonable, as it was implemented without notice. The BCLC implemented these measures following a public inquiry revealing significant money laundering through B.C. casinos, particularly before 2015, where billions of dollars in cash transactions occurred. The court upheld the BCLC’s decision, finding it reasonable to request proof of funds, even for amounts under $10,000, to combat money laundering and comply with financial regulations. While Ghotaymi claimed his funds came from casino winnings and a personal preference for the number nine, the judge noted that his practices aligned with those used for money laundering, and an overinclusive approach was preferable to risking undetected illegal activity. The judge also stated the conditions did not prohibit Ghotaymi from gambling and the list of flagged individuals is not public.
(Source：Vancouver Sun)