An Australian financier imprisoned for fraud is seeking court approval to launch legal action against Entain Australia and other betting operators, claiming they encouraged his gambling addiction through VIP incentives while ignoring clear warning signs.
Gavin Fineff, who was sentenced in 2023 after pleading guilty to 12 counts of obtaining money by deception, is attempting to recover millions of dollars lost through gambling with the aim of returning the funds to the clients he defrauded. According to court records, Fineff misappropriated up to AU$3.3 million (£1.7 million) between October 2016 and March 2020 after convincing clients to entrust him with money they believed would be invested on their behalf. Instead, the funds were largely spent on gambling.
The lawsuit targets Entain-owned Ladbrokes Australia, Tabcorp’s TAB and former bookmaker BetEasy, which was merged into Sportsbet in 2020 following the merger of Flutter Entertainment and The Stars Group.
Fineff argues that the operators treated him as a high-value VIP customer despite obvious indications that his gambling activity was unsustainable. His legal team alleges he received substantial inducements, including bonus bets and cashback-style rebates, from VIP account managers who encouraged continued betting.
During court proceedings, barrister Phoebe Knowles said the alleged incentives totalled approximately AU$169,200 from TAB, AU$528,890 from Entain and around AU$3.3 million from BetEasy. Fellow barrister David O’Brien acknowledged Fineff’s criminal conduct but argued that the bookmakers were “wilfully blind” to multiple warning signs surrounding the source of his gambling funds.
The case follows regulatory action taken against Ladbrokes Australia in 2023, when the Northern Territory Racing Commission fined the operator AU$79,000 for failing to carry out sufficient due diligence regarding Fineff’s spending. Regulators noted that although Fineff reported an annual salary of AU$145,000, his betting account showed deposits worth millions of dollars.
Entain has previously maintained that Fineff presented himself as a wealthy and experienced bettor before opening his account, with discussions over VIP status and promotional benefits taking place over several weeks.
Because Fineff remains in prison and is not eligible for parole before February 2028, he must first obtain permission from the court before the civil claim can proceed. Justice Robert Bromwich will decide whether the lawsuit can move forward. If approved and ultimately successful, any recovered funds would be directed to compensating the victims of Fineff’s fraud.