Sports gambling giants face ‘wake-up call’ as Australian money-laundering investigation nears end

Austrac inquiry into Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365 could influence government regulation amid calls for total ban on gambling ads

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Australia’s biggest sports gambling companies should be prepared for a “wake-up call” as the financial crime watchdog finalises its investigation into suspected breaches of money-laundering laws.

Any action by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (Austrac) – which began its investigation into Sportsbet, Ladbrokes and Bet365 in late 2022 – could influence the federal government’s plans to regulate the industry amid calls for a total ban on gambling ads.

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