British Columbia makes regulatory change in battle against money laundering

The B.C. government is giving the province's gambling regulator greater independence to set and enforce regulatory policy in the fight against money laundering.

The government says it is transitioning the gaming control and enforcement branch to a new independent gambling control office (IGCO), which will focus exclusively on regulatory policy related to gambling, horse racing and responsible gambling programs.

Until this change, the branch has set and enforced policy while also providing advice to the province on business matters involving the B.C. Lottery Corp.

Attorney General David Eby says the change addresses concerns raised by former RCMP officer Peter German in a report done for the provincial government.

He warned that dual responsibility could create conflicts of interest and impede anti-money laundering measures.

Eby says he expects the change to be effective.

"The IGCO will have the mandate, authority and independence to ensure the overall integrity of gambling in B.C.,'' he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"This change will make it far easier to keep dirty money out of our province.''