A 23-year-old man is set to appear in Bankstown Local Court today as he faces charges connected with an alleged online gambling scam. Authorities allege the suspect cheated victims out of more than AUD 2 million ($1.31 million). This case echoes similar gambling-related crimes in the past few months, where perpetrators faced several years in prison for their misdeeds.
The Suspect Faces Substantial Charges
This newest arrest marks the culmination of a months-long investigation that began in August 2023. Detectives from Campsie Police Area Command started looking into the case after they received a tip about suspicious activity linked to a gambling-related investment scheme. An official police report stated that at least 14 individuals fell victim to a company promising high returns from online gambling but delivered nothing in return.
Police have been told that 14 victims had lost in excess of $2 million in an online gambling scam.
NSW Police Force statement
The suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, faces 14 charges, including 11 counts of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception, two counts of making false documents to obtain a financial advantage, and one count of demanding with menace/intent to obtain a financial advantage. If found guilty, the suspect could face several years behind bars.
According to police, the man has refused bail and will face the Bankstown Local Court on June 11, 2025. This case comes amid growing concern over the link between gambling and financial crime in Australia. In recent years, there has been a seen a spike in high-profile casino-related crime, with gambling addiction or fraudulent betting schemes leading to financial loss and criminal prosecution.
Casino-Related Crime Remains a Pressing Issue
This March, a 49-year-old man faced more than five years in prison after he stole AUD 700,000 ($457,000) from his parents. He exploited their vulnerability and ill health, using his lasting power of attorney to move large sums into his personal and business accounts, much of which he spent and lost gambling online.
In a similar high-profile case last year, a 68-year-old Victorian woman was jailed for a minimum of three years for embezzling more than AUD 4 million ($2.61 million) from her employer, a family-run construction company. As the firm’s long-term accountant, she abused her position to alter financial records and pay for luxury vacations and gambling binges, spending an estimated AUD 50,000 ($32,640) on pokie machines.
Authorities warn that as online betting becomes more widespread, so does the risk of gambling-related abuse and fraud. Meanwhile, the regulated sector faces ongoing criticism for keeping the proceeds of crimes committed by people who develop a gambling addiction, adding another wrinkle to this complicated situation. In any case, individuals must be extremely wary of where they send their money, especially when promises of easy profits are involved.