The events of 11 September 2001 galvanised governments around the world to bring a range of money services businesses within various forms of regulation. In the UK, these businesses had been subject to the same law as banks, etc. since April 1994 but compliance was limited. Money services businesses are generally taken to be bureau de change, cheque cashing services and money tranmission services. In many jurisdictions these businesses are now required to register and to undertake identification and other checks as well as to identify suspicious transactions. However, most operate on extremely small margins and often for customers that do one or two transactions only. For this reason, long term transaction monitoring is unlikely to prove successful. Also, the software for such is far too expensive for the businesses.

Risk Values can operate in such a business at a very low cost per transaction. If the business operates a system of accounts, which is often advisable, then Risk Values can be applied at the time the account is opened. When coupled with inexpensive identity checks, Risk Values can offer a unique level of comfort in a high risk (for money laundering) but low margin business.