Legislation
Australia – Victoria cracks down on AML breaches with new laws
By Phil - 24 May 2022
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) is toughening up with new laws to increase its powers in a move it says will ‘hold Crown to account.’
Investigations into Crown have proved that it allowed high rollers to transfer $160m out of China over a four year period by linking payments from Chinese credit cards to the casino’s Southbank hotel reception, circumnavigating anti-money laundering rules. The change in legislation means that one isolated breach will result in disciplinary action rather than the previously laws that stated there had to be repeated breaches.
Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Melissa Horne said: “This important legislation will enhance compliance and enforcement powers and ensure reducing gambling harm is a key priority of the regulator. We’re continuing to hold Crown to account, and these changes will strengthen the already robust oversight of the casino operator.”
“The legislation introduced today is an important step in implementing every one of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, with further reforms to be introduced later this year.”
