Pub staff links see crime gangs money laundering through venues

Criminal groups are finding ways to launder money through NSW pubs and clubs- and it’s all possible because of who they know inside the venues, a secret government report has found.

An investigation into suspicious gaming transactions has uncovered staff linked to organised criminal groups, whom authorities believe could be facilitating money laundering operations.

The link was raised in a highly confidential state government report, obtained by The Saturday Telegraph, which has recommended a ­review of staff authorised to work in pub and club gambling areas or serve alcohol.

The recommendation was one of six “further avenues of analysis and investigations” made in the report after a ­secret investigation by the ­independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, represented by NSW Liquor & Gaming, the NSW Crime Commission and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, uncovered hundreds of suspicious gaming machine transactions.

Anyone working with gaming machines in NSW must have completed a Responsible Conduct of Gambling course while those serving alcohol must have undertaken a Responsible Service of Alcohol course.

The report said a review of certificate holders “may lead to the successful detection of venue infiltration” by money launderers.

A report has found that criminal groups are potentially money laundering through HSW pubs and clubs if they have any links with employees who work in the gamlbing or alcohol section.

The recommendation was one of six “further avenues of analysis and investigations” contained in the report, which sensationally concluded that there was “little doubt” that “electronic gaming machines” were being used for “large-scale money laundering” by NSW organised crime groups.

Seizing on the findings in state parliament this week, NSW independent MLC Justin Field asked the state government whether it was acting on the recommendations.

In response, Arts Minister Ben Franklin – as the Upper House representative for Hospitality and Racing Minister Kevin Anderson – denied the report had made any “recommendations”.

Mr Franklin said, however, a subsequent NSW Crime Commission and independent Liquor & Gaming Authority joint inquiry into money laundering in hotels and clubs which is underway would make recommendations the government would consider.

“That inquiry will pay particular reference to the use of electronic gaming machines and will identify potential vulnerabilities within the regulations and the legislation governing gaming machines, which could be exploited for the purpose of money laundering,” he said.

Mr Field said rejection of the six “avenues” for further investigation listed in the report as not being “recommendations” was “semantics”.

The report found there was “little doubt” poker machines were being used for money laundering in NSW by criminal groups.

The report “points specifically to future avenues that are available for the government to take to reduce or at least identify and have success with anti-money laundering in NSW and electronic gaming machine-licensed premises,” Mr Field said.

“It points to six specific areas and future avenues of action to identify and reduce the incidence of money laundering by organised criminals through poker machines in NSW.”

The report also recommended analysing Star and Crown Casino gaming data, expanding investigations to regional pubs and clubs, and looking at the possibility that lawyers, real estate agents and accountants were actively involved in facilitating organised criminal groups laundering.