A new risk assessment by Austrac identified a number of junket tour operators with links to criminal organisations including drug traffickers,and others with links to foreign political parties or governments,raising concerns about the threat of foreign interference.
Transactions indicated foreign spies or their proxies could be using money held in casino accounts to make political donations with a link to foreign interference activities.
Money launderers were also exploiting casinos'reliance on junket operators tolaunder dirty funds through casino bank accounts and high-roller rooms.
Junkets bring wealthy Chinese high rollers to overseas casinos and extend them credit with which to gamble,circumventing Beijing's tight capital controls. They have become an important part of Crown Resorts and Star Entertainment's businesses in recent years.
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Junket operators have been a focus of this year's explosive NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA)inquiry into Crown.The Age,Sydney Morning Herald and60 Minutes last year revealed many of Crown's junket partners had links to organised crime syndicates,triggering the ILGA inquiry,which is reassessing Crown's suitability to hold a licence for its new Sydney casino.
ILGA ordered Crown to delay opening the Barangaroo casino until the inquiry delivers its recommendations,which are due by February 1. Junket operations have in effect been suspended since Australia shut its international borders in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.