Emu Casino eludes Australian regulators for years

The Emu Group Ltd. has been promoting and providing online casino-style games, including slots and variants of popular table games, to the Australian market since 2012, although this type of gambling services is considered illegal in the country.

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Under Australian regulations, websites can be closed down if they are provenly registered by means of fraudulent methods

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Local media reported that the gambling operator has been managing online casino operations through three Internet domains – .com.au, .com, and .net. What is more, it appears that the Emu Group has claimed on its Facebook page that it had 10,000 registered customers from around Australia.

It is said in the Australian domain website that it is owned by Australian hairdresser Jeff Muller. When asked about his ownership of the illegal online casino, Muller told local media that he had absolutely nothing to do with it and that he would take legal advice in order to have his name removed from the gambling operation’s website.

Under Australian regulations, websites can be closed down if they are provenly registered by means of fraudulent methods.
Australian media found out that the online casino operator is owned by holding company EMU Inc., with the latter being incorporated in Panama, long known to be a tax haven. Its operating unit appears to be based and registered in Malta as Emu Group Ltd. Similarly to Panama, Malta, too, is among the jurisdictions notoriously known for tax avoidance. The online casino has been licensed in Curacao, yet another Caribbean-located tax haven.

According to local media, some of the EmuCasino websites have been registered under the name of Adrian Loughnan, a former Sydney-based web developer. In 2012, Loughnan apparently served as Head of Affiliates for the online casino as it could be seen on the Gambling Portal Webmasters Association’s website. It is unclear whether he is still taking that same post.