Australia’s finance intelligence agency has instructed The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville and Mindil Beach Casino Resort in Darwin to appoint external auditors to assess their AML/CTF compliance.
The actions were taken after the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) identified potential gaps and deficiencies in AML/CTF controls, risk and oversight. AUSTRAC is an Australian government financial intelligence agency responsible for monitoring financial transactions to identify money laundering, organized crime, tax evasion, welfare fraud and terrorism financing.
AUSTRAC Chief Executive Brendan Thomas said the body has particular concerns as the two casinos operate gaming machines and table games which come with an elevated risk.
The scope of the audits will include the maintenance of an AML/CTF program that identifies, mitigates and manages money laundering and terrorism financing (ML/TF) risks. Auditors must also provide a risk assessment, ensure the establishment of competent oversight, and direct the appropriate monitoring of customers.
Queensland’s Ville Resort-Casino has almost 200 hotel rooms, over 370 gaming machines and more than 20 table games. Northern Territory’s Mindil Beach Casino has 150 hotel rooms, 600 electronic gaming machines and 30 table games.
AUSTRAC’s Latest Actions Against Casinos
AUSTRAC’s action follows high-profile actions against casinos Crown Resorts, Sky City and The Star and online bookmakers Entain, Sports bet and Bet 365.
“Although they may be smaller than entities such as Crown Resorts and The Star, like all gambling venues, The Ville and Mindil Beach face heightened risk of exploitation by criminals,” Thomas said.
“AUSTRAC is serious about driving illicit money out of the gambling industry in Australia and making sure businesses that facilitate gambling have strong money laundering controls.”
Thomas added: “My message to boards and CEOs of gambling business, including pubs and clubs with gaming machines, is to make sure you comply with Australian money laundering laws and take your responsibility to tackle money laundering seriously; we are watching, and we will take further action.
“Money laundering harms our economy and it allows criminals to profit from some of the most awful crimes – we need to stamp it out.”
