Online Gambling as a Game Changer to Money Laundering?

Abstract

$1.6 billion criminal proceedings are transferred yearly into the legal system by money laundering (UNODC 2011). Only about 0.2% are identified and confiscated. The manifold negative consequences of money laundering are devastating and threaten the functionality of capital markets (Unger 2007). An important aspect of money laundering is that it is a necessity for organized crime. Without money laundering most crime would not pay. This paper analyses why the relatively new market of online gambling provides different opportunities to launder money cheaply and its consequences.

Keywords: online gambling, money laundering, gambling, crime, cybercrime, organized crime

JEL Classification: K14