A man who identified himself as a chronic high-stakes gambler has lost his legal battle to reclaim almost $100,000 that was confiscated at the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. A court ruled that the funds were likely linked to money laundering activities.
The Ontario Attorney General sought the forfeiture of $99,200, which was seized by police in 2022 under the Civil Remedies Act. In a decision from the Superior Court of Justice in Newmarket released in February, the court agreed with the Attorney General's application stating that the evidence suggested the seized money was derived from unlawful activities.
Judge Phillip Sutherland noted that the financial transactions associated with Branavan Kanapathipillai and his businesses could not be justified by his reported annual income. He remarked on the suspicious nature of the large sums of money flowing through various accounts, which included personal and corporate funds.
Kanapathipillai contended that the seized money originated from a third mortgage and a line of credit, arguing for its return. He has claimed to be a high-stakes gambler for the past two decades, frequently dealing in substantial cash amounts.
His attorney, James Foy, announced on Thursday that Kanapathipillai intends to appeal the ruling, expressing disappointment with the judge's decision and citing alleged errors in the judgment.
The court heard that the nearly $100,000 buy-in at Fallsview Casino raised suspicions with a cashier, prompting the Ontario Provincial Police to seize the cash. An investigation concluded that the money was likely involved in money laundering activities.
While Kanapathipillai has not faced any criminal charges related to his casino transactions, the investigation revealed that he had multiple aliases, addresses, phone numbers, and driver's licenses, as well as accounts registered under corporate names. A total of 23 financial accounts were scrutinized including 19 bank accounts and four Mastercard accounts.
An analysis by Grant Thornton Canada LLP indicated that the seized currency exhibited characteristics typical of funds intended for laundering as it was about to be converted into casino chips.
In recent years, there have been several police investigations into suspected money laundering at Niagara casinos. In January 2024, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario imposed a $70,000 fine on the casino's operator for alleged violations of anti-money laundering regulations.
This followed an incident in April 2023 where a patron presented $80,000 in cash from a grocery bag in the high-limit gaming area only to leave with casino chips without placing any bets.
Court Orders Nearly $100K Seized from 'Chronic High-Stakes Gambler' at Niagara Falls Casino