The Gambling Supervision Commission (GSC) of the Isle of Man has recently formally responded to a report on transnational organized crime in Southeast Asia released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The report mentioned that criminal groups have used gambling platforms to engage in money laundering and fraud activities, including jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man.
The report, titled "Transnational Organized Crime Threat Assessment in Southeast Asia," primarily focuses on how multiple criminal gangs rely on Southeast Asian casinos and special economic zones to carry out money laundering, human trafficking, online fraud, and other illegal activities. However, the report also points out that these networks have extended their reach globally, including some internationally renowned online gambling licensing locations.
The Isle of Man was specifically mentioned in the report. The document states, "Organized crime groups are gradually expanding to the Isle of Man, which, as a globally renowned gambling license issuer, has attracted a large number of 'white label' gambling companies."
In response, the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Authority stated in a declaration: "The GSC takes the information provided by international authoritative bodies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime very seriously. We will continue to collaborate with global regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies to resolutely combat transnational criminal activities in the gambling sector."
The statement further emphasized that the government of the Isle of Man and all its regulatory bodies have a clear stance on criminal activities: "zero tolerance." The GSC stated that it has implemented a wide range of measures to enhance the identification and response to risks and will not hesitate to use its regulatory powers in cooperation with legal departments to combat any abuse of the Isle of Man's legal framework.
In fact, the Isle of Man authorities have launched several law enforcement actions against gambling enterprises in the past two years.
April 2024, police conducted a raid on King Gaming and Dalmine Limited, seizing a large amount of fraud evidence and arresting at least seven people, subsequently revoking the related licenses.
March 2025, law enforcement officers once again took action, raiding Ableton Prestige Global Limited and Amiga Entertainment, detaining two individuals in a case classified as "a major investigation involving international money laundering activities."
The report also pointed out that these enterprises are suspected of serving a criminal group related to an illegal gambling network in Cambodia, closely associated with online scams, telecommunications fraud, and other financial crimes.
Particularly concerning is that some of the involved companies have indirect connections with Zhao Wei, a former manager of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone. Zhao Wei is wanted in multiple countries for organizing large-scale gambling and telecommunications fraud in Southeast Asia, and his group allegedly attempted to "legalize" its operations through channels in the Isle of Man.
The GSC stated that these disclosures once again highlight the potential risks of the gambling industry as a channel for cross-border crime money laundering and underscore the urgency of further reforming regulatory systems on the island.
"Serious and organized transnational crime is a global challenge," emphasized the GSC, "We are committed to fulfilling our regulatory duties, effectively curbing the infiltration of criminal forces, and protecting the reputation and safety of the Isle of Man gambling industry."
Finally, the GSC welcomes such reports as early warning signals to the industry and believes they will help regulatory bodies enhance their response capabilities to new threats, strengthening information exchange and law enforcement coordination with global partners.
