AusPost and POLI Payments allegedly involved in illegal gambling transactions

Though offshore online casinos are prohibited in the country, Lucky247, Roxypalace, Digimedia, among others, promote gaming platforms in the islands.

Australia.- Australia Post is being investigated after The New Daily revealed its connection with online gambling operators outside the national islands. Apparently, the mail service helped the transactions between local players and foreign companies offering online casinos. A subsidiary of the state’s postal corporation, POLI Payments Pty Ltd, supplied financial services for offshore gambling sites.

The AusPost bought POLI Payments back in 2014 and the financial service perceived an annual increment in its revenues up to AUS$5 million –US$3,851,100–. As the media revealed, the company was recommended as a reliable source to transfer money from local bank accounts into foreign casino operators’ accounts, although the Interactive Gambling Act considers overseas betting services illegal.

“I will be asking Australia Post for an urgent explanation for why it is doing this because as a government business enterprise and good corporate citizen the corporation should not be involved. If it is involved in facilitating these payments Australia Post needs to recognise it is contributing to the growth of gambling addiction and the enormous harm it brings to Australians and their families. They need to get out of this business ASAP because it is toxic,” said Nick Xenophon, independent senator.

International casino companies may face AUS$1.8 million –US$1,386,396– fines for each day they illegally operated in Australia. As to resident players, the law protects them from any reprisal. The AusPost and POLI Payments declared to media that they are compliant with Australian laws as their services do not boost offshore and advertising casino companies. Nevertheless, the investigation revealed that POLI Payments collects fees for every deposit players make in the international casinos.

“It is not an area that we intend to operate in over the long term,” published an AusPost’s spokesman, and added that online casino industry is not part of its long-term strategy. “To ensure alignment with the Australia Post group’s broader strategy, we review on an ongoing basis our relationships with payment intermediaries and other merchants,” the spokesperson concluded.