Money laundering found to be rife through NSW clubs and pubs
Money laundering through pubs and clubs is back on the agenda is back on the agenda after previously unseen documents revealed the top 10 worst pubs and clubs in New South Wales for the crime.
Millions of dollars are suspected to have been washed" through pokies in just seven weeks, with documents revealing investigators suspected $5.5 million was laundered through 178 venues between 11 October and 29 November 2021.
People have been caught on camera putting $50 notes into pokies and withdrawing the money again without gambling it.
MPs have now called for a royal commission into money laundering in NSW.
The venues under most scrutiny are in Western Sydney.
Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann requested the documents through parliament, with the key document a result of an Anti-Money Laundering Project, run by NSW Liquor and Gaming and the NSW Crime Commission.
The project took over seven weeks and was implemented just after the COVID lockdown lifted in October 2021.
Ten venues accounted for 41 per cent of the $5.5 million laundered.
The report shows there were 344 suspicious transactions at the Canterbury League Club in Belmore, 273 at Bankstown Sports Club, and 183 at Mt Pritchard & District Community Club.
Canterbury League Club is accused of washing $541,642 exchanged in 344 transactions.
"Evidence collected leaves little doubt that electronic gaming machines are being used for large-scale money laundering by organised criminal groups in NSW," the document read.
Then director of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, Philip Crawford, wrote to the former government raising the alarm.
"There were multiple venues allowing multiple instances of money laundering on their premises and it seems as though they've been turning a blind eye," Faehrmann said.
NSW Crime Commission boss Michael Barnes independent MP Alex Greenwich in a letter sent in July that investigators did not believe Liquor and Gaming data was accurate enough to prove money-laundering.
"Investigations during the Islington Inquiry showed that there was insufficient evidence to assert that the people identified … were involved in money laundering," he said.
Documents have been referred to the NSW Ombudsman for further investigation.
The government will not support a royal commission but would act on any findings from the ombudsman.
Jonathan Jackson, 24th August 2023
