Entain files Defence to AUSTRAC proceedings

[Chief Stipe]

Entain files Defence to AUSTRAC proceedings

Entain Australia (Entain Group Pty Ltd) today filed its Defence in response to AUSTRAC’s amended statement of claim in the Federal Court of Australia.https://bitofayarn.com

Entain acknowledges there were certain deficiencies in its previous anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) compliance program (Program) during the period December 2018 and August 2024. https://bitofayarn.com

At the same time, Entain disputes a number of the allegations and interpretations made by AUSTRAC. 

Entain also notes that over the last two years, it has undertaken a substantial transformation of its approach to compliance and strengthened its Program with:
•    A tenfold increase in AML/CTF staffing;
•    Tens of millions of dollars invested in new systems and technology;
•    Closure of higher risk channels – including all cash payment channels, which previously accounted for less than 2% of deposits; 
•    Closure of all 17 customer accounts in question – prior to legal proceedings, some as far back as 2020;
•    New governance, controls, processes and oversight of risks; and, 
•    A new leadership team committed to a compliance-first culture.https://bitofayarn.com

Entain has fully cooperated with AUSTRAC and continues to engage constructively and in good faith.

Andrew Vouris, CEO of Entain Australia & New Zealand, said: https://bitofayarn.com

“We sincerely regret that our old program didn’t meet expectations. We followed expert advice at the time but, looking back, we recognise the old program missed the mark. 

"We’ve acknowledged our shortcomings, taken responsibility, and spent the last two years learning from them and fixing them. 

"Entain has fundamentally transformed its approach to compliance and now operates a market-leading program, underpinned by a compliance-first culture – to Win, But not at all costs.”

Media Contacts: 

Australia – Trenton Akers

Trenton.Akers@entaingroup.com.au  
+61 422 828 895

New Zealand – Matt Smith 

matt.smith@entaingroup.co.nz  
+64 27 228 5423

Entain plc (and Sodali & Co)  

media@entaingroup.com
entain@sodali.com   
+44 (0) 20 7250 1446

27 October 2025

[sarge]

Mea culpa.

17 specific accounts is damning.

They’re foreigners and have form in multiple other jurisdictions.

Their $100m provision reported in August this year looks unders…..

[Chief Stipe]

9 minutes ago, sarge said:

17 specific accounts is damning.

They were all closed before legal proceedings commemced.

10 minutes ago, sarge said:

Their $100m provision reported in August this year looks unders…..

If that happens then AUSTRAC will be ignoring their own penalty precedents.

[curious]

20 minutes ago, Chief Stipe said:

If that happens then AUSTRAC will be ignoring their own penalty precedents.

It's no longer up to AUSTRAC is it? It's up to the court to decide that now since the mediation has failed.

[Chief Stipe]

6 minutes ago, curious said:

It's no longer up to AUSTRAC is it? It's up to the court to decide that now since the mediation has failed.

Either way I doubt the quantum of the penalties will be out of line with the precedents.