Ben Carter: Penrith tax agent and accused fraudster gambled $94m on Sportsbet app

Court documents reveal Carter allegedly used a single Sportsbet account to stake a total of $94m across 53,000 individual wagers between 2019 and 2023.

Alleged fraudster accountant Ben Carter. Picture: Facebook

Penrith tax agent Ben Carter funnelled nearly $100m through Sportsbet at the same time he was allegedly siphoning money from clients to fund his insatiable gambling addiction, a court has heard.

The astonishing figure can be detailed for the first time after The Sunday Telegraph obtained access to court documents outlining the police case against Carter, who is facing more than a dozen fraud charges.

Police will allege a joint investigation by NSW Police’s anti-bikie squad Raptor and the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) revealed Carter used a single Sportsbet account to stake a total of $94m across 53,000 individual wagers between 2019 and 2023.

Court documents said banking records show $26m deposited into the account can be traced back to funds Carter allegedly misappropriated from a dozen clients through his company, Carter’s Tax ­Advisory.

Among the alleged victims was a Penrith businessman looking to invest in Drink West Brewery, a celebrity beer brand part-owned by NRL playmaker Nathan Cleary and UFC star Tai “Bam Bam” Tuivasa. Neither are accused of any wrongdoing.

Alleged victims Tai Tuivasa and Nathan Cleary, with fellow Drink West owner Tyson Pedro. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

But police claim the remaining money Carter poured into his gambling slush fund is unaccounted for, alleging there is no way the father-of-three, who they claim pockets a salary of about $130,000 a year, could have earned it ­legitimately.

“The origins of the funds forming the difference are believed to be proceeds from other criminal activity,” police said in court documents.

Benjamin Carter has been charged with tax fraud offences allegedly worth up to $26m.

“There is no record that the TPB or police investigators have been able to locate that identifies that [Carter] has legitimately earned remotely close to the monetary value he has used to fund his ­gambling.”

The court heard Carter, a “pathological” gambler who is currently suing Sportsbet in the Federal Court for allowing him to bet, was arrested in July and charged with 16 offences including dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception and knowingly dealing with proceeds of crime. He is yet to enter a plea.

Each of the charges relates to allegations comprising the $26m figure, about $20m of which was eventually ­returned.

Carter has not been charged in relation to any other criminal activity and the Sunday Telegraph does not suggest he will be.

The court heard he was remanded in custody for a month before being granted bail in the NSW Supreme Court on a $700,000 surety, which included conditions that required him to wear an electronic ankle monitor and live with his mum under quasi-house arrest in Kingswood.

However, Carter applied to Penrith Local Court on Friday to have his bail conditions relaxed to allow him to attend a gym for an hour a day.

Benjamin Carter, who has been charged with tax fraud offences allegedly worth up to $26m, and his partner Amy Steele, who has been charged with recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime. Picture: Facebook

Defence lawyer Bobby Hill, representing leading Sydney law firm Hanna Legal, tendered a letter from Gamble Aware NSW, which recommended Carter use “physical activity” to “improve self care”.

“His mother’s home doesn’t have weights or gym equipment,” Mr Hill said, claiming his client needed access to treadmills and bikes to get a proper workout.

Police opposed the bail variation, arguing a gym was not a suitable place for Carter to attend.

The prosecutor also noted wryly the internet was “rich with material” for those wanting to get fit at home.

Magistrate Greg Moore will give his decision next Wednesday.

Carter’s partner, Amy Steele, was also arrested in July as part of the investigation and charged with recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime.

She was released on bail the same day and is yet to enter a plea.