Some concerning data revealed last week regarding Ontario casinos, which reported a dubious deal worth more than C$372 million in 2022. 릴게임사이트 The news sparked some alarm among critics who said local governments should address the issue immediately to stop dirty money in the local and regulatory gambling sectors.
Land-based gaming properties in Ontario hit around C$372 million in questionable deals in 2022, according to a recent Freedom of Information request from a local media outlet. The figure was significantly lower than the full-year numbers for 2020 and 2021, when casinos briefly closed, but is about C$38 million higher than pre-shutdown operations.
The Attorney General’s NDP critic, Kristyn Wong-Tam, said the volume of transactions was a big wake-up call in the state and argued that more needs to be done to address the issue. One of these deals includes the case where Branavan Kanapathiphyllai has earned more than C$4 million over the years. He made a large cash purchase at Pickering Casino Resort in 2022, employees reported.
Mr. Kanapatifilai is said to have made 10 transactions between C$50,000 and C$100,000. However, the source of the cash is unknown, and it was unusual for an individual to hold so much cash. But despite the dubious amount, the casino still accepted the money. The same thing happened to at least three other casinos since 2016.
In response, Mr Kanapatifilai explained that the money came from a third mortgage, but did not appear in court last week to restate it. Meanwhile, Ontario’s gambling authorities say the incident is a sign that a system designed to monitor suspected cash transactions is working, allowing law enforcement to track the money.
A spokesperson for the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission said the issue was the result of an investigation conducted by the OPP Investigations and Enforcement Directorate, which has its roots in AGCO. The representative said the police department, which as an embedded agency specializes in money laundering and related investigations, is unique to the state compared to other jurisdictions in Canada.
This is not the first time that potential money laundering issues have been raised across casinos. In December 2022, Inspector General Bonnie Lycick published a report that gave Ontario Lottery and Gaming companies recommendations on doubling down on efforts to address money laundering issues. She said the amount is relatively small, but it depends on different sites.
In addition, in her report, she found that online sports betting is flourishing on OLG’s online platform. However, most players did not take advantage of many responsible gambling features, such as time and spending limits.