Hundreds of Queensland welfare recipients have bet millions of dollars in state casinos under a money laundering scam linked to crime gangs. The 329 pensioners and Newstart Allowance recipients, who get less than AUD 300 a week, have bought AUD 45 million of gaming chips at the state's four casinos in just 16 months. The scam is simple. Pension recipients, working independently or on behalf of organised crime syndicates, take thousands of dollars in dirty money, "buy-in" at a casino, place a few bets and then cash in gaming chips; in effect cleaning the cash.