Published on: December 15, 2025, 06:35h.
Updated on: December 15, 2025, 06:35h.
- Self-identified fortune teller tied to extensive fraud and money laundering case
- Gained VIP access to a casino while claiming unemployment and disability benefits
- The case intensifies scrutiny on Star amidst ongoing regulatory investigations
A so-called “fortune teller” accused of orchestrating a A$250 million (US$165 million) fraud ring was reportedly able to launder approximately A$800,000 (US$528,000) at Sydney’s Star Casino. This occurred while she claimed to casino representatives that she was unemployed and surviving on a A$400-per-week (US$264) disability pension.
53-year-old Anya Phan, who also bills herself as a feng shui expert, was taken into custody by New South Wales Police last month on charges related to fraud and money laundering.
She is accused of convincing vulnerable individuals from Sydney’s Vietnamese community to secure substantial loans, claiming that a billionaire would soon enter their lives once they did so. According to prosecutors, Phan received up to A$150,000 (US$99,000) from each loan.
Penthouse Syndicate
Following her arrest, detectives connected Phan to a broader criminal organization that was already under investigation.
Phan is alleged to be the “leader” of the Penthouse Syndicate, a group suspected of defrauding the Australian financial system of over A$250 million (US$165 million) with the help of corrupt employees from banks, lawyers, mortgage brokers, and real estate developers.
This operation reportedly allowed the syndicate to amass a luxurious property portfolio throughout Sydney, with prosecutors noting that Phan resided in a mansion valued at A$13.7 million (US$9.04 million). She stepped into the leadership role of the group following the arrest of the previous head, Bing “Michael” Li, in July.
Star Entertainment Group Under Scrutiny
News that Phan managed to launder significant sums at Star’s baccarat tables as a VIP member, including A$45,000 (US$29,700) in a single day, raises further concerns regarding compliance at the beleaguered Star Entertainment Group.
The organization could face fines of up to A$400 million (US$264 million) after AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial crimes authority, petitioned the court to impose penalties for alleged failures in anti-money laundering protocols.
Star’s Sydney license has been suspended since 2022, following a regulatory inquiry that found the casino had allowed criminal organizations to utilize its private high-roller junket areas for money laundering, although the casino’s gambling operations have continued during this period.
Phan held a Platinum Club membership, which is the second-highest tier and provides entry to “Sovereign,” known as Australia’s largest private gaming area.
It is alleged that Phan laundered money at the casino over a limited timeframe before her arrest last month, though prosecutors have not specified whether these activities took place following the initiation of regulatory actions against Star in 2022. The casino did not formally revoke her access until after her arrest.