Over $1 Billion Laundered Through Australia’s Pubs and Clubs Annually

Richard M. November 29, 2021 3 minute read

A joint report by media outlets has shown evidence of over AU$1 billion being laundered throughout Australia while highlighting a money-laundering syndicate operating in NSW and Queensland.

Australia’s gambling platforms are under the radar of federal authorities following reports of money laundering through poker machines, where a staggering amount of AU$1 billion is reportedly laundered annually.

The report was issued by the same group of media outlets that previously exposed Crown Resorts and brought forth similar allegations for Star Entertainment Group.

The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and 60 Minutes jointly issued the report providing evidence of the money laundering syndicate’s illicit operations. In Sydney alone, 140 pubs and 130 gamblers were identified to be areas of concern, with chief NSW gaming investigator David Byrne stating, “That’s only in the Sydney metro area, that’s not the entire NSW landscape.”

The report not only appeared on news sites but was also presented on national television along with CCTV footage from a Sydney pub. The footage showed the syndicate’s collective operations across multiple slot machines for laundering money while staying undetected by the pub’s staff.

This is incredible. Video of alleged criminal money being laundered through NSW poker machines. $1 billion and counting! Well past time for reform! https://t.co/ScEmgt8M2t

— Stevie Pate (@stevie_pate) November 28, 2021

One of the individuals inserted AU$27,000 in two machines side by side, followed by betting just $1 on each of them before redeeming the “winnings”.

Another suspect laundered approximately AU$38 million over a period of five years in gambling venues on Australia’s east coast. He was previously banned from The Star Sydney two times for suspicious activities.

According to the report, the state and federal authorities have substantial evidence of money laundering through 95,000 poker machines in NSW, summing up to a total “easily in the hundreds of millions” of dollars in the state, and over AU$1 billion throughout the country.

The report also indicated that the countermeasures against money laundering have been repeatedly hindered by ClubsNSW and the Australian Hotels Association, both of which have political influence.

Moreover, the smaller pubs and clubs are frequently targeted by money launderers due to the lack of AML measures and inadequate monitoring. “The challenge has always been finding the resources and time and budget to address” money laundering in such venues, said Byrne.