Three charged after $4.7 million money-laundering scheme at Melbourne pokies venue

A Melbourne crime syndicate that allegedly laundered $4.7 million by buying punters' winnings on the pokies has been brought down after a year-long investigation.

Federal Police raided a pokies venue in Springvale, a home in Springvale South and a Noble Park home yesterday, arresting a 49-year-old Springvale South woman and a 63-year-old man and 61-year-old woman from Noble Park.

All three have since been charged with engaging in conduct in relation to money or property when the value is $1 million or more, which has a maximum penalty of 20 years' jail.

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More than $170,000 in cash and gold bullions was found hidden inside the Springvale South home.

Police allege the syndicate laundered millions of dollars in illicit cash through a Springvale gaming venue by buying jackpots from punters.

The syndicate allegedly paid the punters cash if they handed over their winning cheques, which would then be issued in the name of a syndicate member.

The money would be deposited later into a bank and attributed as legitimate gambling winnings.

The Australian Federal Police led the year-long investigation into the syndicate, and was helped by AUSTRAC, the Victorian Gambling & Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) and National Australia Bank.

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The syndicate was discovered after it was found that the Springvale gaming venue started issuing an abnormally high number of cheques in November 2021.

Approximately 73 per cent of the cheques the venue issued between November 2021 and June 2022, which were valued at more than $4.7 million in total, were found to have been issued to a select group of customers.

VGCCC CEO Annette Kimmitt AM said the agency had put "countless hours into reviewing data and footage, and conducting (its) own covert operations".

Kimmit said the crackdown on the Springvale venue had "put the whole gambling industry on notice".

The VGCCC is still investigating the venue and its staff.

Police have said any breaches of Victorian gambling laws by the venue or its staff will result in disciplinary action, which ranges from fines to licence cancellation.

AFP Acting Assistant Commissioner Raegan Stewart said venues should realise they could not "turn a blind eye to criminal activity".

"Licensed clubs and gaming venues should already be on notice that they are a significant risk for money laundering activities, and are often misused by individuals for criminal intent," he said.

Anyone with information relating to the investigation or has been approached for payment for winning cheques should contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

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