Former Australian Minister De-Anne Kelly Revealed as LuckyBet Co-Founder

Former Australian veterans' affairs minister De-Anne Kelly has been revealed as a co-founder and former part-owner of Curaçao-licensed online casino LuckyBet, according to an ABC investigation based on leaked regulatory documents. 

The documents show Kelly was a major shareholder and chief compliance officer when LuckyBet applied for a Curaçao gambling licence in March 2024. Her son, Ian Parke, was listed as a director and another major shareholder.

CGA staff reviewing the application reportedly flagged Kelly's combination of ownership and compliance responsibilities as a potential conflict.

Kelly Supported Australia's Interactive Gambling Act

Kelly's involvement is notable because she previously supported the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 while serving in Australia's federal parliament.

The legislation restricted certain online gambling services from being offered to Australian customers, including online casino games and in-play sports betting. Kelly spoke in favour of the bill during parliamentary debate in 2001.

She represented the Queensland seat of Dawson from 1996 to 2007 and later served as minister for veterans' affairs.

According to the leaked Curaçao documents cited by ABC, Kelly's investment interests were held through LBC Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd together with other shareholders.

That Australian company was removed as a LuckyBet shareholder on March 6, 2025. A company controlled by Parke subsequently became the sole shareholder, meaning Kelly was no longer an owner when Australian regulators later took enforcement action against the casino.

ACMA Warned LuckyBet in September 2025

The Australian Communications and Media Authority opened an investigation into LuckyBet in August 2025 after receiving a complaint about the service.

ACMA found that LBC Enterprises B.V., the provider of LuckyBet, offered prohibited and unlicensed regulated interactive gambling services to customers physically present in Australia. The regulator issued a formal warning dated September 25, 2025. 

The investigation found LuckyBet offered casino-style games and betting services, including in-play wagering, without holding an Australian state or territory licence.

At the time of the investigation, ACMA understood LuckyBet's owners and directors to be registered in Curaçao. The regulator told ABC it had not had access to the subsequently leaked CGA documents and would assess the new information concerning a possible Australian ownership connection. 

Curaçao Licence Was Revoked in Late 2025

According to ABC, the Curaçao Gaming Authority revoked LuckyBet's licence at the end of 2025, although the casino website remained accessible at the time of the October 2026 investigation. 

CGA rules state that a revoked licence no longer authorises gambling activity under the Curaçao jurisdiction.

Neither Kelly nor Parke responded to ABC's requests for comment.

The ownership information emerged from documents obtained from the CGA's systems and later released publicly by German researcher and activist Lilith Wittmann. The CGA has said it is investigating the unauthorised access to its systems.

The case connects three separate periods in Australia's online gambling history: Kelly's support for the 2001 legislation, her later involvement in an offshore casino business, and ACMA's 2025 enforcement action against LuckyBet after she had ceased to hold a stake.