Banned Pro Gamblers’ Syndicate Buys IDs to Get Back Into Action

In another exclusive exposé by The Guardian, the publication revealed a concerning truth: players who have been banned from accessing online casinos and betting platforms can purchase identity documents and set up multiple bank and betting accounts under another person’s name. 

The Gambling Syndicate That Exploits Vulnerable Young Men

Henry Belot’s investigation unfolded in an unassuming suburban neighborhood, where a modest post office locker was turned into the center of a controversial operation managed by a gambling syndicate accused of exploiting vulnerable young men. 

For several years, these individuals have risked everything by mailing their signed bank cards to this locker in exchange for quick cash, often around $1,000, without fully understanding the potential dangers.

By sharing their identification documents, these men inadvertently gave the syndicate the power to create multiple bank and gambling accounts in their names. 

In some cases, they weren’t even aware of how their information would be used.

Pro Gamblers Allegeldy Run the Syndicate 

The syndicate, run by professional gamblers, claims it was simply a creative workaround after being banned by sportsbooks for winning too often. 

They insisted that their activities did not break any laws and were a legitimate form of betting.

At least two major banks and several betting companies were deceived in this scheme, though they acknowledge that the true victims are those desperate enough to sell their identities. 

As one sportsbook stated, the participants handed the syndicate “an absolutely terrifying potential to conduct the most serious financial crimes in their names.”

One of the men caught up in the scheme, identified under the pseudonym “Jackson,” considered it a means of getting out of financial trouble.

Easy Money

After he accrued $11,000 in credit card debt during the pandemic, Jackson desperately needed fast cash. 

One of Jackson’s friends introduced him to what seemed like an easy money-making opportunity, encouraging him to sell his ID for a quick payment. 

Shortly after signing up, the man received a bank card in the mail with instructions to send it to a PO box.

Guardian Australia verified that multiple bank accounts were opened in the same man’s name. 

The respective accounts were used to manage gambling transactions, and at least eight gambling accounts were created across various platforms. 

Jackson initially earned $250 a month for his participation. Before the syndicate eventually decided to let him go, he made thousands of dollars. 

Before he was kicked out, he was offered $500 for future referrals. While he was never comfortable with the scheme, he found a way to live with it.

Since he loathed the gambling industry, he was willing to take a chance on people who “found a way to game a predatory industry.”

“I do feel guilt about profiting from an industry that creates such immense social harm,” Jackson said.

When Reality Hits

The reality hit hard when Jackson decided to investigate what had been done in his name.

After visiting a bank branch, he learned that fake email addresses had been created to manage his accounts, and funds were funneled through ATM deposits, making them untraceable. 

Jackson soon realized he was part of a sophisticated operation. “The number of transactions…suggests a complex, methodical operation,” he admitted.

A bank provided him with transaction details from a closed account, revealing that the syndicate had placed bets across several platforms, including Bet365, Sportsbet, PointsBet, Tabcorp, Crossbet, Betdeluxe, Bossbet, and The Real Bookie.

Jackson chose not to disclose the syndicate’s name, fearing retaliation since they still possessed his ID documents and were aware of his home address.

Experienced figures in the gambling industry agreed that his caution was justified.

Experts like Lauren Levin from Financial Counselling Australia warn against participating in such schemes, citing risks of identity theft and financial crime. 

“Being party to anyone’s gambling fraud is never a good idea,” she cautioned, highlighting the long-term consequences that often accompany “easy money” after hearing about Jackson’s story.

Martin Thomas, chief executive officer of the Alliance for Gambling Reform, noted that certain groups aim to “exploit the desperate financial situations some people find themselves in.”

However, insiders within the gambling industry acknowledge their own role in the rise of these syndicates, pointing to fierce competition among sportsbooks that has driven the industry’s rapid growth to a $50 billion market.

Not Knowing the Consequences

Many who sell their ID to gamblers, like Jackson, don’t realize the long-term consequences. He admits he was never warned that letting others use his identity for bank and betting accounts might be illegal.

Though no bank has pursued action against him yet, the Australian Banking Association cautions: “It is an offense to knowingly allow another person to use your identity documents to impersonate you.”

Kathy Sundstrom from IDcare highlights the risks: “Unfortunately, they won’t know what other debit accounts may have been created as this isn’t reflected in credit reports and this could prove problematic in the future.” She added easy money is “seldom” easy to make.