MLRO Lead – iGaming & Sports Betting

Initiate International; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing iGaming operator in London is seeking an experienced MLRO Lead to oversee their AML / CTF framework. You'll act as the primary point of contact for regulators and law enforcement, driving the financial crime strategy and leading a dedicated team. The role requires extensive knowledge of AML legislation and experience managing risk in a fast-paced environment. This position offers a competitive salary and the chance to work in a dynamic sector where your contributions will be felt across the organization.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Benefits

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in AML / CTF within a regulated environment.
• Experience acting as an MLRO or equivalent senior financial crime role.
• Strong knowledge of UK AML / CTF legislation and industry best practices.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and primary contact for AML matters.
• Design and enhance the AML / CTF framework.
• Oversee suspicious activity reporting processes.

Skills

AML / CTF

KYC

CDD

EDD

SARs

Transaction monitoring

Risk assessment

Stakeholder management

Excel

Reporting tools

Education

Relevant professional qualifications (e.g. ICA, ACAMS)

Job description

Our client is a fast-scaling operator with a strong footprint in online betting and gaming. They are now strengthening their financial crime and AML capability and are looking for an experienced MLRO Lead to own the AML / CTF framework, act as the principal point of contact for law enforcement and regulators, and ensure the business moves fast – but always within the rules.

If you want the autonomy, visibility, and responsibility that comes with being the senior financial crime voice in the room, this role puts you right at the centre.

The Opportunity

As MLRO Lead , you will be responsible for designing, executing, and continually improving the AML and financial crime strategy across the UK and relevant international markets. You will act as the key liaison with the UK Gambling Commission , law enforcement, banks, and other regulatory stakeholders, and you will be trusted to make high-stakes decisions on risk, reporting, and escalation.

You will lead a growing financial crime function and work closely with compliance, risk, product, operations, and senior leadership to create a culture where financial crime controls are strong, embedded, and commercially sensible.

What You Will Do

• Act as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and primary point of contact for AML / CTF matters, including liaison with law enforcement and the regulator.
• Own and continually enhance the AML / CTF and financial crime framework , ensuring alignment with UKGC requirements, POCA, MLRs, and relevant guidance.
• Oversee the end-to-end process for suspicious activity reporting (internal SARs and external SARs to the NCA), ensuring quality, timeliness, and appropriate documentation.
• Lead and develop the financial crime team (analysts, investigators, senior specialists), defining structure, responsibilities, and performance standards.
• Drive effective KYC, CDD, EDD, source of funds (SoF) and source of wealth (SoW) processes, balancing regulatory expectations with customer experience.
• Own the business-wide risk assessment for money laundering and terrorist financing, updating it in line with changing products, markets, and risk appetite.
• Oversee transaction monitoring, alert tuning, and case management to ensure effective detection and handling of unusual and suspicious activity.
• Partner with product and tech teams to embed strong financial crime controls into player journeys, payments, and new product launches.
• Work with responsible gambling, fraud, and compliance to ensure joined-up controls across financial crime, affordability, and safer gambling.
• Prepare and present regular reporting on financial crime risk, incidents, trends, and remediation to senior management and, where required, the board.
• Lead responses to regulatory enquiries, audits, thematic reviews, and inspections related to AML / CTF and financial crime.
• Monitor external developments – typologies, regulatory expectations, technology, and market trends – and translate them into practical improvements.

What You Bring

• Extensive experience in AML / CTF, financial crime, or fraud within iGaming, sports betting, online gaming, payments, or another highly regulated, high-transaction environment .
• Demonstrable experience acting as an MLRO, Deputy MLRO, or equivalent senior financial crime role, ideally in a UK-regulated environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK AML / CTF legislation, UKGC requirements, POCA, MLRs, JMLSG guidance, and industry best practices.
• Proven experience managing SAR processes, dealing with the NCA, and handling sensitive investigations and escalations.
• Experience leading and developing teams, setting standards, and driving performance and accountability.
• Comfortable working with data, monitoring tools, and case management systems; able to challenge and improve controls using evidence.
• Calm, structured, and decisive under pressure – able to make balanced risk decisions and justify them.
• Strong communication and influencing skills; credible with senior leadership, regulators, and external partners.
• Relevant professional qualifications (e.g. ICA, ACAMS or similar) are highly desirable.

Relevant skills and tools

AML / CTF, POCA, UKGC, MLRs, SARs, KYC, CDD, EDD, SoF / SoW, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, risk assessment, internal investigations, policy and framework design, staff training, stakeholder management, Excel, reporting tools, case management and monitoring platforms.

What’s In It For You?

• High-impact remit : You will shape and lead the entire financial crime strategy for a growing iGaming and sports betting operator.
• Regulatory and board visibility : Direct exposure to senior leadership, key decisions, and regulatory interactions.
• Build and lead : Opportunity to shape the team, tools, processes, and culture of financial crime risk management.
• Fast-paced environment : Work where products evolve quickly, and your decisions meaningfully influence how the business grows.
• Attractive package : Competitive salary, benefits, and hybrid working model in London.

If you are a senior AML / financial crime professional ready to take on full MLRO responsibility in a modern, high-growth iGaming and sports betting business, we would like to hear from you.

Please submit your CV along with a brief summary of your experience as an MLRO / Deputy MLRO, including team leadership, SAR management, and interaction with UK regulators or law enforcement.