Entain braces for landmark AUSTRAC showdown in November 2026

Malta.– November 12, 2025 – www.zonadeazar.com  Entain is facing a regulator lawsuit in Australia over alleged AML/CTF failures that could reshape the online betting sector.

Overview

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has set 30 November 2026 for the Federal Court hearing against Entain Australia, focusing on alleged systemic weaknesses in customer verification, source-of-funds checks, and cash/third-party deposit channels by the group’s brands during the period December 2019–December 2024.

Case details

AUSTRAC’s case alleges that Entain’s Australian businesses permitted cash-deposit and third-party channels and weak verification controls, exposing the wagering network to criminal misuse. Entain has admitted past shortcomings and says it has fundamentally restructured its AML operations — closing all cash-deposit channels, dramatically increasing AML staffing, and investing tens of millions in oversight systems.

Strategic implications

The hearing is seen as the first full Federal Court test of the AML/CTF Act on a digital betting operator in Australia and could result in fines in the hundreds of millions. Entain continues to view its Australian & New Zealand business as critical to long-term growth, even as it closes a challenging chapter in its compliance history.

🔗 Edited by: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com