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Government-owned payment company banks millions from online casinos


A subsidiary of Australian government-owned postal company has been providing financial services to illegal offshore online casinos, an investigation by The New Daily has revealed.

The Australia Post’s payments subsidiary, POLi Payments Pty Ltd was found to be recommended by hundreds of offshore casinos as a method to transfer money out of Australia.

According to the investigation from The New Daily, the company has raked in at least $5 million from online casinos since the company was acquired by Australia Post in October 2014.

“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,” said independent senator Nick Xenophon.

“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.”

As POLi Payments is not marketing or advertising an internet gambling service, it is not in breach of the Interactive Gambling Act.

“We are comfortable that POLi is acting in accordance with the Interactive Gambling Act and other applicable gaming laws where POLi is involved in making payment transfer services available for use,” a spokesperson from Australia Post said in an emailed statement The New Daily.

However, the spokesperson hinted that Australia Post may withdraw its payment services to online casinos, given it is not part of its long term play.

“It is not an area that we intend to operate in over the long term,” the spokesperson said.

Online casinos using the payment system include some of the world’s most popular online gaming sites, many of which are targeting Australian residents.

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