There are many situations that draw individuals in need into casino gambling. In Australia there have been many instances where people in dire need of quick cash will take their welfare checks to the casino and gamble away their last bit of hope. This is become such a problem throughout the industry that the Australian government is now pushing forward through the Australian crime commission in an attempt to stop this type of behavior.
Recently it has been reported through ABC news that nearly 2000 welfare recipients have been gambling away their checks that they received in order to profit. Allegedly there has been a high level of gambling in the casinos with welfare checks and now the government wants them stopped. The chain has grown so much that it now expanded into organized crime rings where individuals are cheating the system by defrauding Centrelink and taking their checks to the casinos where they will then gamble away their money. This type of money laundering has become a huge problem that the commission is now beginning to stop.
The problem of welfare gambling has been going on for many years, and now the push to stop it has begun. In 2006 and 2007 there were nearly 2300 welfare recipients who are identified as being high profile gamblers in the casinos. Since expanding into the organized crime unit, these individuals have been identified and now are linked with the organized crime providers in a money laundering scam. This will be the target for the ACC as they try to stop the activity.
Organized crime has caused a huge financial issue within Australia as they have hit the casinos hard and are soaking up between 10 and $15 billion per year in money laundering scams. Centrelink is cooperating with the ACC and now beginning to press charges against those who have been involved in money laundering activities throughout the years.
