VANCOUVER 鈥� Gamblers flocked into four 91原创-area casinos over a recent three-month period hauling bags of $20 bills that added up to millions of dollars in suspicious transactions, according to information provided by the provincial Finance Ministry in response to a freedom of information request from the CBC.
The Edgewater Casino in the Plaza of Nations in 91原创 alone reported $5,242,090 in unusual transactions from March 20 to June 21.
CBC reported that $2.5 million in suspicious transactions occurred at New Westminster鈥檚 Starlight Casino, while $24 million was flagged at Richmond鈥檚 River Rock Casino.
Police were rarely, if ever, contacted, according to the incident reports.
In some cases, patrons showed up at the door with plastic or brown paper bags filled with cash in wads held together by rubber bands.
For example, on May 5, a person showed up at the Starlight Casino with $49,900 in $100, $50 and $20 bills wrapped in rubber bands and stashed in a paper Body Shop bag.
On June 1, a patron showed up at the same casino with $100,000 all in $20 bills 鈥� a currency frequently used in street-level drug transactions.
In some cases, patrons bought in and cashed out without playing or with very minimal playing.
There were reports of chips being exchanged in washrooms and of bundles of $100 bills being exchanged under tables.
When gamblers use cash transactions at casinos, the source of the money cannot be traced.
Gangsters are suspected of using the system to launder dirty money by buying in, then not necessarily betting and cashing out the credit, claiming the income as winnings.
There were about 500 reports of suspicious transactions in response to the freedom of information request.
Casinos are required to identify and report any suspicious activity to the provincial government, as well as all cash transactions of $10,000 or more.
In 2011, the government launched an anti-money-laundering strategy focused on reducing the use of cash to minimize the opportunity for money laundering to take place through gambling facilities.
Improvements under the strategy include a move toward more electronic banking, reducing the need for gamblers to carry cash.
But Mike Farnworth, the NDP critic for the solicitor general and public safety, said nothing of substance has been done.
鈥淚 think that is particularly alarming.鈥�
He added the report is obviously concerning.
Because casino gambling and money laundering are not unique to B.C., he said the government needs to research best practices in other jurisdictions facing similar challenges.
While reports of suspicious activity are being dutifully filed, 鈥渢he question is what happens afterward.鈥�
In a statement released by B.C.鈥檚 Ministry of Finance, the government said there had been significant progress in providing traceable cash alternatives.
In the first six months of 2014, there were nearly 9,800 debit transactions at casinos for a total of $18,158,390.
When this option was first introduced in 2012, there were only 50 transactions in the first six months, according to the government.
The government said that in 2013/14, almost one-quarter of play was paid for using non-cash instruments.
Neither 91原创 police nor RCMP would comment on the report. A call to Edgewater Casino was not returned.
