Leak Reveals Former Australian Minister’s Links to Offshore Casino LuckyBet

^{De-Anne Kelly, former Australian federal minister}

Former Australian federal minister De-Anne Kelly was a co-founder and former co-owner of offshore online casino LuckyBet, ABC News reports, citing documents from a leak involving the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA).

Kelly represented the National Party in Australia’s federal parliament from 1996 to 2007 and served as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. In 2001, she voted in favour of legislation banning offshore online casinos from offering their services to Australian customers.

Speaking in support of the legislation at the time, Kelly said it was necessary because gambling websites were “exploiting vulnerable and susceptible members of the community.”

According to the leaked CGA documents, Kelly was a major shareholder in LuckyBet and served as its director of regulatory compliance when the casino applied for a Curaçao licence in March 2024.

Her son, Ian Park, was listed as a company director, the other shareholder and a co-founder of LuckyBet alongside his mother.

Kelly held her stake in LuckyBet through Australian company LBC Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd. On March 6, 2025, the company ceased to be a shareholder in LuckyBet, leaving an entity controlled by Park as the casino’s sole owner.

In August 2025, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) launched an investigation into LuckyBet and found that the casino had provided services prohibited under Australian law to customers in the country. The company received a formal warning in September.

At the time of its investigation, the regulator was unaware of the LuckyBet owners’ links to Australia. Following the publication of the new information, ACMA said it would review the findings and determine whether further action was warranted.

LuckyBet.co homepage

LuckyBet’s Curaçao licence expired in late 2025. The online casino nevertheless remains in operation.