Gambling industry sprays hospitality and gifts
Politicians are the big winners from Australia's gambling companies. See our analysis of who's receiving hospitality and gifts from an industry that ignores its anti-money laundering obligations.
Sean Johnson13 January 2022
Amid concerns about the failures of the gambling industry to combat money laundering, an analysis of the parliamentary interests registers reveals 42 politicians - 18.5% of the Australian parliament - have received benefits from the industry and related sectors since 2019, including tickets to sports events and musicals, alcohol and food, and honorary club memberships.
Tabcorp, Australia’s biggest gambling entity, was fined $45 million in 2017 for neglecting to report 108 suspicious transactions to the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing authority, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). But as the table below shows, the company has been quite diligent duchessing our political class, providing 23 lucky MPs and senators with a total of at least 70 free tickets to events like the Melbourne Cup, Derby Day, and the State of Origin. Who says Tabcorp doesn’t pay out.
The Star Entertainment Group, whose casinos in NSW and Queensland are being reviewed by gaming authorities due to concerns about inadequate money laundering controls, has been generous as well, giving six politicians and their families and friends a total of 19 tickets to events like the State of Origin and musicals Billy Elliott and Hamilton ($250 a ticket).
Crown Casino, deemed by NSW authorities to be unfit to hold a casino licence in the state over money laundering failures at its Melbourne casino, has provided a couple of tickets to a tennis event.
Online gambling company Sportsbet was recently fined $3.7 million for spamming 37,000 people with over 150,000 text messages and emails between January 2020 and March 2021. And Sportsbet's response? It starts trying to influence politicians by taking them to the Australian Open, Melbourne Cup, and Oaks Day.
The pubs and clubs lobbies, which have repeatedly blocked efforts at pokies reform, have a simpler approach: free booze and food. The standout is the Queensland Hotels Association's $821 gift to LNP Senator James McGrath - for reasons unknown the QHA loaded McGrath up with four cartons of beer, two cartons of rose, a carton of Verdelho, a carton of Prosecco, and a carton of sparkling wine. Must have been some party.
Meanwhile ClubsNSW and ClubsACT have been playing Santa, dispensing Christmas hampers to a lucky few. Horse racing clubs have ponied up too, providing a mix of season passes, VIP tickets, and honorary memberships to at least 10 politicians.
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Albanese | 28/10/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 16 October 2021 - Guest of TABCorp at the TAB Everest Race Day |
| Andrew Bragg | 03/12/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets and hospitality as a guest of Tabcorp at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday 2 November. |
| Terri Butler | 30/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Box seat tickets (4) and hospitality at the Brisbane Lions game 01/06/2019, Tabcorp |
| Ross Cadell | 20/10/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and Hospitality to Everest Horse race by TABCORP - Value unknown |
| Darren Chester | 25/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 Tickets to the Birdcage at the Melbourne Cup on November 5, 2019. Tickets provided by Tabcorp |
| Darren Chester | 23/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x Tickets to Chairman's Club at Paramount Stakes Day, November 6, 2021 - provided by TabCorp |
| Darren Chester | 18/01/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 3 x Tickets to Boxing Day Test - Ashes Cricket on December 27, 2021. Courtesy of Tabcorp |
| Anthony Chisholm | 17/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality Stradbroke Island Race Day, Eagle Farm Racecourse, 8 June 2019, guest of Tabcorp |
| Anthony Chisholm | 07/07/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality Game II of the 2021 Ampol State of Origin, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 27 June 2021, guest of Tabcorp |
| Raff Ciccone | 10/05/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality to the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival on 6 May 2021 at Warrnambool Racecourse guest of Tabcorp Holdings Ltd |
| Raff Ciccone | 28/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality to the Paramount+ Stakes Day on 6 November 2021 at the Flemington Racecourse guest of Tabcorp |
| Damian Drum | 22/06/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Attendance at races in Sydney hosted by Tabcorp in 2021 |
| Jason Falinski | 06/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets to the 2019 Melbourne Cup, including hospitality from TabCorp Ltd |
| Jason Falinski | 16/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tabcorp Box at Randwick race course for Melbourne Cup day 2 November 2021 |
| Don Farrell | 08/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality for two courtesy of Tabcorp at Derby Day, Melbourne on 2 November 2019 |
| Don Farrell | 08/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality for two courtesy of Tabcorp and Lion at Melbourne Cup, Melbourne on 5 November 2019 |
| Paul Fletcher | 08/06/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Attended Melbourne Cup 2019 with spouse at the invitation of Tabcorp and Network Ten - both are stakeholders in my portfolio |
| Paul Fletcher | 08/06/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Attended Melbourne Cup 2019 with spouse at the invitation of Tabcorp and Network Ten |
| Sarah Henderson | 10/10/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets to the Tabcorp hospitality suite for 2019 Derby Day, Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival from Tabcorp Holdings Ltd |
| Kevin Hogan | 05/02/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets from Tabcorp for Derby Day |
| Greg Hunt | 27/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Drop-in entry to Kennedy Pavilion, Tabcorp Pavilion and Newscorp Pavilion at Melbourne Cup 2019 - with spouse. |
| Greg Hunt | 27/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Drop-in entry to Kennedy Pavilion, Tabcorp Pavilion and Newscorp Pavilion at Melbourne Cup 2019 - with spouse. |
| Michelle Landry | 08/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket from Tabcorp for Derby Day in the Birdcage |
| Michelle Landry | 08/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket from Tabcorp for Melbourne Cup in the Birdcage |
| Jenny McAllister | 06/10/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket to Epsom Cup and hospitality (October 3) from TabCorp |
| Michael McCormack | 25/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets to State of Origin Game 1 as guest of Tabcorp on 5th June 2019 |
| Michael McCormack | 13/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets from Tabcorp to attend the Melbourne Cup on 5 November 2019. |
| Bridget McKenzie | 18/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x Tickets Corporate Hospitality and tickets to Melbourne Cup by Tabcorp |
| Michelle Rowland | 05/11/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality to the 2019 Golden Eagle for self and guest (not spouse) on 2 November 2019 from Tabcorp |
| Michelle Rowland | 19/10/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality from Tabcorp to the 2020 Everest at Randwick Racecourse on Saturday 17 October for self and 1 guest (not spouse). |
| Michelle Rowland | 09/11/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality from Tabcorp to attend the 2020 Melbourne Cup carnival at Randwick racecourse on Tuesday 3 November for self and guest (not spouse) |
| Michelle Rowland | 05/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tickets and hospitality from Tabcorp for self and four (4) others (not spouse) for Randwick races, Tuesday 2 November. |
| Michael Sukkar | 29/09/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Tabcorp invitation to Australia vs USA at Marvel Stadium |
| Meryl Swanson | 19/04/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Entry and hospitality from Tabcorp at Royal Randwick Racecourse on 10.4.21 for Ms Swanson |
| Meryl Swanson | 19/04/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Entry and hospitality from Tabcorp at Royal Randwick Racecourse on 10.4.21 for Ms Swanson's husband Nicolas Swanson. |
| Dan Tehan | 12/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Attendance for self and guest at Melbourne Cup on 5 November 2019. Provider of the benefit was Tabcorp. |
| Dan Tehan | 03/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Attendance with spouse at Melbourne Cup on 2 November 2021. Provider of the benefit was Tabcorp. |
| Dan Tehan | 03/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Attendance with spouse at Melbourne Cup on 2 November 2021. Provider of the benefit was Tabcorp. |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Tabcorp Birdcage Enclosure, Derby Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Tabcorp Birdcage Enclosure, Stakes Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Trent Zimmerman | 11/04/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | 2 tickets - State of Origin Sydney Olympic Park - Tabcorp - 10 July 2019 |
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angie Bell | 15/07/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | NRL State of Origin tickets & hospitality CBus Stadium. Guests of The Star |
| Andrew Bragg | 15/12/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality for Christmas event and hospitality and tickets to Hamilton provided by The Star Sydney. |
| Fiona Martin | 12/04/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Two tickets to the Australian Premiere of Hamilton at The Sydney Lyric Theatre on 27 March 2021 valued at $250 each from The Star Entertainment Group |
| Fiona Martin | 18/01/2022 | 11. Gifts | Self | The Star Entertainment Group - Bottle of Champagne and complimentary entree value $325 Date 29th December 2021 |
| Michelle Rowland | 05/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality from The Star for self and three (3) others (not spouse) for dinner on Tuesday 2 November. |
| Michelle Rowland | 12/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket from The Star to attend Hamilton and hospitality on Saturday 6 November |
| Michelle Rowland | 12/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Ticket from The Star to attend Hamilton and hospitality on Saturday 6 November |
| Murray Watt | 26/07/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets to the 2019 Gold Coast Mayoress Charity Foundation Ball, 11th May, 2019. Tickets sponsored by The Star Gold Coast. 2 tickets - $255 each = $510 |
| Trent Zimmerman | 27/11/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Tickets to Billy Elliott, Lyric Theatre, Sydney, November 2019, The Star. |
| Trent Zimmerman | 06/05/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Tickets to Hamilton - the Musical. Star Entertainment Group. |
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raff Ciccone | 07/02/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality to Crown IMG Tennis event, on 19 January 2020 guest of Crown Melbourne. |
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raff Ciccone | 15/02/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality to the AO22 Men's Semi Final on 28 January 2022 at the Australian Open guest of the Sportsbet |
| Raff Ciccone | 28/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality to the Lexus Melbourne Cup on 2 November 2021 at the Flemington Racecourse guest of Sportsbet |
| Sussan Ley | 22/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Melbourne Cup Luncheon at Royal Randwick provided by Sportsbet |
| Rob Mitchell | 07/02/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Guest of Sportsbet with spouse at Australian Open Men’s Semi-final on 28 January 2022 |
| Rob Mitchell | 07/02/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Guest of Sportsbet with spouse at Australian Open Men’s Semi-final on 28 January 2022 |
| James Paterson | 30/01/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets and hospitality to Oaks Day, Victoria Racing Club, 4 November, courtesy of Sportsbet |
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Andrews | 06/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | I attended the annual Australian Hotels Association (AHA) Board meeting in Melbourne |
| Andrew Bragg | 18/10/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | In kind donation from the Australian Hotels Association - NSW Branch in support of office opening on 25 September 2019. |
| Andrew Bragg | 14/08/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Hospitality from the Australian Hotels Association - NSW Branch on 7 August 2020 |
| Matt Keogh | 06/09/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Gift of ticket to AFL Game in Premium Suite, Optus Stadium, on Sunday, 11 August 2019 from AHA, Value: Unknown. With spouse. |
| Matt Keogh | 06/09/2019 | 11. Gifts | Spouse/partner | Gift of ticket to AFL Game in Premium Suite, Optus Stadium, on Sunday, 11 August 2019 from AHA, Value: Unknown. With spouse. |
| Michelle Landry | 08/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket from the Australian Hotel Association for the AHA National Board Luncheon |
| James McGrath | 11/12/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Alcohol from Queensland Hotels Association: 4 Cartons Beer - approximately $200; 2 Cartons x 6 Rose; 1 Carton x 6 Verdelho; 1 Carton x 6 Prosecco; 1 Carton x 6 Sparkling Wine - approximately $621.60 TOTAL: $821.60 |
| Tim Wilson | 03/03/2020 | 11. Gifts | Self | Red, white and sparkling wine from the Australian Hotels Association. |
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Albanese | 26/11/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Gift hamper from ClubsACT |
| Jason Clare | 10/12/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | 1 x gift box from Clubs NSW - received on 24 November 2021 - valued at $100 |
| Joel Fitzgibbon | 25/11/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | A bottle of Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 from ClubsNSW |
| Matt Thistlethwaite | 29/11/2021 | 11. Gifts | Self | Christmas Hamper (from Clubs NSW) |
| Name | Date | Interest | Person | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simon Birmingham | 08/08/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two VIP passes for the 2019/2020 season provided by the Victoria Racing Club |
| Raff Ciccone | 09/02/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality to the C.F. Orr Stakes Family Day on 6 February 2021 guest of Melbourne Racing Club |
| Raff Ciccone | 28/04/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality to the 2021 MRC Foundation Blue Diamond Gala Ball on 22 April 2021 at Caulfield Racecourse guest of the Melbourne Racing Club |
| Raff Ciccone | 10/05/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 1 x ticket and hospitality to the Warrnambool May Racing Carnival on 5 May 2021 at Warrnambool Racecourse guest of Australian Jumps Racing Association |
| Raff Ciccone | 15/02/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality to the C.F. Orr Stakes Family Day on 12 February 2022 at the Caulfield Racecourse guest of the Melbourne Racing Club |
| Raff Ciccone | 28/11/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x tickets and hospitality to the Zipping Classic Day on 27 November 2021 at the Caulfield Racecourse guest of the Melbourne Racing Club |
| Damian Drum | 12/02/2020 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Annual entrance ticket for member only provided by Racing Victoria |
| Trevor Evans | 20/04/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Ticket to Saturday Raceday at Eagle Farm 17 Apr 2021, including corporate hospitality, from Brisbane Racing Club - with partner |
| Trevor Evans | 20/04/2021 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Spouse/partner | Ticket to Saturday Raceday at Eagle Farm 17 Apr 2021, including corporate hospitality, from Brisbane Racing Club - with partner |
| Patrick Gorman | 14/08/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | 2 complimentary honourary guest passes and 1 vehicle pass for Gloucester Park Harness Racing (received 14th August 2019). |
| Andrew Hastie | 11/04/2019 | 13. Memberships | Self | Gloucester Park Harness Racing Club: Honorary Member |
| Andrew Hastie | 11/04/2019 | 13. Memberships | Self | Pinjarra Harness Racing Club: Patron↳ Deleted from register 1/02/21 |
| Matt Keogh | 11/04/2019 | 13. Memberships | Self | Gloucester Park Harness Racing: Honourary membership |
| Scott Morrison | 14/08/2019 | 13. Memberships | Self | 2 x Honorary Memberships of the Victoria Racing Club |
| James Paterson | 30/01/2022 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | Two tickets and hospitality to Oaks Day, Victoria Racing Club, 4 November, courtesy of Sportsbet |
| Christian Porter | 11/04/2019 | 13. Memberships | Self | Gloucester Park Harness Racing (Honorary Member) |
| Glenn Sterle | 08/07/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | Complimentary Membership - Gloucester Park Harness Racing |
| Tim Wilson | 15/10/2019 | 11. Gifts | Self | 2x tickets to Caulfield Guineas, Melbourne Racing Club |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Melbourne Racing Club Committee Room, Caulfield Guineas, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Lion Nathan Birdcage Enclosure, Derby Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Melbourne Racing Club Committee Room, Peninsula Cup, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Lion Nathan Birdcage Enclosure, Melbourne Cup Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
| Tim Wilson | 26/11/2019 | 12. Travel or hospitality | Self | 2 x guest tickets for Penot Ricard Birdcage Enclosure, Stakes Day, 2019 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival |
