An Adelaide casino will pay a watchdog’s costs of pursuing it for $67 million (US$44.6 million) in penalties.
The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) launched civil action against SkyCity Adelaide in December 2022, alleging the casino breached money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
The regulator and the casino agreed to a $67 million penalty in May, given the casino’s co-operation and admission to the unlawful conduct between 2016 and 2022.
The casino failed to meet its requirements and did not carry out appropriate ongoing customer analysis.
AUSTRAC said SkyCity allowed high-risk customers to move millions of dollars through the casino, in ways that obscured the source of the funds.
“SkyCity provided services through high-risk channels and to high-risk customers without appropriate risk-based controls,” the regulator said in a statement on June 7.
SkyCity will now pay the regulator’s costs within 14 days.
Federal Court Justice Michael Lee ruled on June 7 the conduct between both parties was comprehensive and the costs to be paid appropriate, approving the $3 million (US$2 million) in costs agreed by the casino and regulator, on top of the $67 million penalty decided in May.
Justice Lee was critical of AUSTRAC’s evidence, saying the regulator should have been able to provide an estimate of the casino’s financial gain as a result of the unlawful conduct.
“The regulator has not thought it appropriate to bring such evidence in the case, which would be necessary to reach a view in a relatively broad range, the financial benefit obtained by contravening conduct,” the judge said.
It is the second civil penalty AUSTRAC has secured against casinos, after Crown was ordered to pay a $450 million (US$300 million) penalty over two years relating to its casinos in Melbourne and Perth.
SkyCity announced to the share market the proceedings had been resolved on June 7 morning.
