The Federal Court of Australia has scheduled a hearing for 30 November 2026 regarding AUSTRAC’s lawsuit against Entain.
After completing its investigation into Neds, Bookmaker.com.au, and Ladbrokes Australia, AUSTRAC filed a lawsuit against Entain Australia in December 2024, citing systematic violations of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006.
The investigation covers Entain’s commercial activities from December 2019 to December 2024 and focuses on the company’s alleged failure to maintain adequate AML/CTF controls.
The lawsuit claims that Entain’s brands operated with insufficient customer verification measures and inadequate source-of-funds checks. They also allegedly allowed cash deposits and third-party channels, exposing the company’s betting network to the risk of criminal misuse.
During this period, AUSTRAC strengthened its oversight of licensed gambling operators, imposing record fines – including AU$450 million on Crown Resorts and AU$67 million on SkyCity Entertainment for AML/CTF violations.
A year after the lawsuit was filed, Entain’s board confirmed that its Australian subsidiary would dispute several of the regulator’s allegations, while acknowledging past weaknesses in its compliance system.
The company stated that it has completely restructured its AML framework, including closing all cash-deposit channels, increasing its AML staff tenfold, and investing heavily in new monitoring and control systems.
The Federal Court has given AUSTRAC until 10 April 2026 to present its evidence, and Entain until 6 August 2026 to submit its response. The possibility of settlement before trial remains open.
If no agreement is reached, the 2026 hearing will become the first full Federal Court trial under the AML/CTF Act involving an online betting operator, with Entain potentially facing fines worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
At the same time, Entain has stated that it will not make any operational changes in Australia regardless of the trial’s outcome. The company continues to view its Australian and New Zealand operations as key to long-term growth, actively investing in market share expansion and strengthening its position in one of the world’s most competitive betting markets.
For Entain’s leadership – CEO Stella David and CFO Rob Wood – the case represents a final chapter in resolving legacy compliance issues the company is determined to close.
After years of investigations and enforcement actions in the UK and Australia, Entain aims to draw a line under past violations and restore the confidence of regulators and investors.
As Andrew Vouris, CEO of Entain Australia and New Zealand, previously noted: “We followed expert advice at the time but, looking back, we recognise the old programme missed the mark.
“We’ve acknowledged our shortcomings, taken responsibility, and spent the last two years learning from them and fixing them. Entain now operates a market-leading compliance framework – to win, but not at all costs.”
Until the court delivers its verdict, Entain’s Australian business – viewed internally as both a strategic growth pillar and a reputational test case – will continue to operate under the shadow of AUSTRAC’s proceedings, as the group seeks to close one of the most challenging chapters in its corporate history.
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