The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) grants limited exceptive relief under the authority set forth in 31 U.S.C. § 5318(a)(7) and 31 CFR § 1010.970(a) to casinos from certain customer identity verification requirements in the context of online gaming. Specifically, under the terms of this relief, a casino may utilize suitable non-documentary methods to verify the identity of online customers. The suitability or non-suitability of any particular method should be evaluated based on risk.

Today, FinCEN issued a financial trend analysis on ransomware trends in Bank Secrecy Act reporting filed between January 2021 and June 2021. This report, issued pursuant to the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020, focuses on pattern and trend information pertaining to ransomware, in line with FinCEN’s issuance of government-wide priorities for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism policy.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today issued a notice extending the filing date of Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Account (FBARs) for victims of recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Ida, the California Wildfires, and Tropical Storm Fred.  Victims of recent natural disasters will have until December 31, 2021 to file FBARs for the 2020 calendar year.  FinCEN is offering this expanded relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as qualifying for individual assistance.