CRIME AND PUNISHMENT


How does modern crime impact gaming?


Crime ain’t what it used to be. Sharon Harris examines just how modern crime in gaming is fought – and what crime has become


T


here have always been criminals. Sadly, there will always be crime, but the scenario has changed beyond the conventional felon’s cheating, robbing or physical attacks. Today’s


law enforcement professionals find themselves racing against time to thwart savvy, anonymous criminals of all ages, backgrounds and geography. These cyberspace crooks often do their worst damage solely with computer key strokes. Some examples include money laundering,


which takes illegally-obtained funds from one source and disguises it as coming from another. If detected, the money may be seized. Embezzlers move money illegally, typically for personal use, from one source.


Former Acting Deputy Director of CIA


Operations outside the U.S. Jack Devine has decades of experience fighting sophisticated criminals. From 1967-1999, he worked for 11 CIA directors and six presidents, from Richard Nixon through Bill Clinton. Devine and prominent New York attorney


Stanley Arkin launched The Arkin Group in 2000. The international risk consulting and intelligence firm provides strategic intelligence and analysis, which minimize risks and maximizes payoffs, to clients making critical decisions. Devine praises advanced technology’s ability


to collect and integrate data while also acknowledging its downside. “These are incredible tools, but the problem is that


criminals have them too. Big money makes the casino industry a diverse source of illegal activity, spanning organized crime, lone criminals and hacking groups. Illegal activity has progressed beyond law


enforcement‘s earlier focus on security and card counters. Today, criminals’ expanded capabilities make us think defensively. Cyber criminals see game hacking as a profitable income stream. It impacts those bundling valuable ‘gaming assets’ like games, playing cards and similar goods into their online user accounts. After studying their ‘targets of opportunity,‘ criminals attempt direct contact to humanize and personalize the experience. Personal information makes these victims ripe for hacking,“ Devine states.


Money laundering and theft


Pervasive money laundering encompasses everything from mortgages to health care fraud to casino operations, but advanced anti-crime measures are showing some success. Spectrum Gaming Managing Director Fredric Gushin stresses that secure, trustworthy gaming often depends on its geography. He divides gaming into two camps-regulated jurisdictions within the U.S, Canada, Europe, Singapore and Australia, and the unregulated rest of the world. The European Union (EU) considers honest gaming a key priority and continually updates its regulations. The 4th AML Directive, the EU’s most recent recommended standards, took effect in June 2017.


30 SEPTEMBER 2017


Photo: simonidadj/Adobe Stock


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118