Questions arise in casino money-laundering

TORONTO, May 21 (UPI) -- An undercover and deliberately suspicious Canadian broadcaster's investigation of Ontario casino pay-outs found loopholes for possible money-laundering.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. sent a crew of three employees to two casinos, carrying $15,000 in cash. In full view of staff members and overhead security cameras, they rapidly fed $20 bills into slot machines, which casino officials and police alike describe as suspicious behavior.

They then took their winning vouchers worth $29,093 to have checks cut. At both casinos, their ID was checked as the law requires. However, Ontario Provincial Police Detective-Chief Superintendent David Crane, who heads the enforcement arm of the province's Alcohol and Gaming Commission, told the CBC earlier action should have been taken.

"You shouldn't be able to feed in $15,000 in $100 bills, 20s or whatever," he said. "No, it's not going to happen. That should set off alarms."

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have voiced concerns drug dealers are using a similar system to launder their proceeds, the report said.