The report also found casino operators assumed that if the Immigration Department had issued a junket participant a visa, 'they must be of sufficiently good character to engage in a junket'. The findings were contained in a damning report into casino junket tour operations, the details of which AUSTRAC tried to keep secret.Ī version of the report released under Freedom of Information redacted any reference to the vulnerabilities in casino AML/CTF programs, leaving only information about broad awareness and compliance across the sector.

Alex EllinghausenĪUSTRAC also knew compliance by casinos with AML/CTF laws appeared to be 'generally more with the letter than the spirit of the law', with casinos using 'technicalities' to avoid undertaking proper due diligence. The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) was aware casinos were failing to identify or verify sources of funds and the ultimate beneficiaries of winnings associated with junket operators.ĪUSTRAC chief executive Nicole Rose said the report had 'significantly aged'.

The financial crimes watchdog knew Australian casino operators were exploiting legal technicalities in anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws as far back at July 2017.