'Casino Secrets' Leak Names Former Australian Minister Behind Illegal Offshore Casino

The 'Casino Secrets' leak, which exposed confidential records from offshore gambling hubs in Curaçao and Malta, has produced its first political headline in Australia. The ABC reported on October 2 that LuckyBet, an online casino once licensed by the Curaçao Gaming Authority, was co-founded by De-Anne Kelly, a former federal MP who served as veterans' affairs minister under Prime Minister John Howard. Records describe her as chief compliance officer.

Australia's Interactive Gambling Act made online casino play illegal nationwide, and Kelly is reported to have voted to keep online gambling banned. Even so, once licensed, LuckyBet marketed itself to Australians. Regulators issued the site a formal enforcement warning in 2025 for targeting Australian players. The leak also shows the Curaçao authority flagged a possible conflict of interest while reviewing the application, and that LuckyBet's licence ended late last year.

The story builds on a wider leak in which a hacker has threatened to expose the real owners of hundreds of offshore casinos. This report relies on leaked records and media coverage that BetWiseBrief has not independently verified.