The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has filed a lawsuit against Adelaide’s SkyCity casino in Federal Court, alleging grave violations. They contend that SkyCity willfully and methodically disregarded Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulations.
This legal action stems from a formal warning AUSTRAC issued to SkyCity last June following an extensive inquiry. This inquiry was part of a broader operation AUSTRAC initiated in 2019 to assess compliance throughout the entire gaming sector.
AUSTRAC claims that SkyCity fell short on several fronts. They allege the casino neglected to properly evaluate the dangers of money laundering and terrorism financing, failed to implement sufficiently robust safeguards to mitigate these threats, and did not adequately inform their board and senior leadership about their obligations in upholding these critical laws.
Moreover, AUSTRAC asserts that SkyCity lacked adequate protocols to scrutinize high-risk patrons and failed to appropriately monitor customers already identified as potential risks for money laundering.
“Our investigation revealed numerous instances where SkyCity simply did not exercise due diligence in monitoring their customers,” stated AUSTRAC’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Peter Soros.
Allegations of inadequate safeguards against illicit financial activities, including money laundering and funding for terrorism, have been leveled against SkyCity. This lapse, as claimed by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), could expose the entity to exploitation by criminal elements. AUSTRAC is seeking the imposition of civil penalties, the specific sum of which will be adjudicated by the court. This legal action mirrors similar proceedings initiated against The Star Pty Limited and The Star Entertainment QLD Limited, underscoring a worrisome trend within the Australian casino sector.