The New South Wales (NSW) Crime Commission has unveiled a dedicated investigation into money laundering via the poker machines available in the state. The crime-fighting agency in NSW will use its powers to examine allegations that local pokies have been used as laundromats to wash great amounts of dirty funds.
Commissioner Michael Barnes has confirmed that the agency has engaged itself in the investigation and called for academics, whistleblowers, past or current employees of clubs and pubs and regular members of the public to make submissions to the probe, called the Electronic Gaming Machine Inquiry. The submissions could be kept confidential, he also noted.
The intervention of the independent Crime Commission of the state into what has become a highly-politicised topic lately is expected to resonate through New South Wales’ political life.
For years now, the gambling industry has been criticised for making massive donations to local political parties as it has been building a strong lobby to support its campaigns. In alleged lobbying on the part of Clubs NSW, the Labor Party in NSW has refused to initiate a much-needed poker machine reform or at least an investigation into the local gambling sector.
Recently, a media hub revealed that the chairman of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), Philip Crawford, had formally asked the Government commission to hold a public inquiry into poker machine-related problem gambling and alleged money laundering violations. As reported by local media, the move triggered extreme pressure on the Premier to act on the request, especially after some CCTV footage proved that a money-laundering syndicate had used poker machines in the inner-city area to wash tens of thousands of dirty funds.
NSW Premier Criticised for Lack of Swift and Decisive Action against Pokie Money Laundering
An investigation held by The Sydney Morning Herald revealed that the poker machines situated in Sydney “mini-casino” venues had been targetted by individuals who were suspected in money laundering activities, washing millions of dirty cash.
The current NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, has been criticised for failing to make a swift and decisive response to the aforementioned revelations. His office, however, has been insisting that he had been busy thoroughly assessing the situation and considering ways to deal with the issue.
The decision of the NSW Crime Commission to announce the ongoing inquiry has come as part of the current reform process of the gambling industry in Australia. The overhaul of the sector has been triggered after in 2019 it was revealed that money laundering activities had been taking place for years at Crown Resorts. Now, it is almost certain that NSW venues hosting poker machines will be subject to tougher regulations and even stricter policies. The revelations also highlighted the need for overall policy reform, including the adoption of cashless gaming cards not only in the state of New South Wales but in the entire country.
According to Mr Barnes, the NSW Crime Commission needs to keep an open mind about the extent of criminal activity in the state, including the role pokies have played in money-laundering activity.
- Author
Daniel Williams
