The Melbourne casino, Crown, is under scrutiny again by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for not upholding its duty to offer secure gaming options.
A probe known as the ‘Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence’ revealed that Crown had breached numerous responsible gaming regulations during an assessment of Crown’s suitability to retain its casino license. These infractions encompassed a failure to adequately oversee or manage “hundreds, possibly thousands, of customers displaying indicators of problem gambling or gambling-related harm.”
The VGCCC has sought additional details from Crown regarding its responsible gambling procedures and will ascertain the appropriate disciplinary measures based on this data.
Potential actions under consideration by the VGCCC include financial penalties reaching AUD$100 million (US$68.5 million), adjustments to its operational permit, or a formal reprimand of Crown accompanied by “directives for remediation.”
“The royal commission brought to light numerous distressing accounts of at-risk patrons being incentivized to wager beyond their financial capacity,” stated VGCCC Chairperson Fran Thorn. “Crown’s responsible gambling commitments are a prerequisite for its casino license, designed to safeguard susceptible patrons and avert gambling-related detriment to patrons, their families, and communities. There is no greater obligation.”
The Victorian Gaming and Casino Regulatory Authority (VGCCC) is taking strong measures following the Royal Commission’s discoveries regarding Crown Resorts’ reckless wagering behaviors. Their aim is to make Crown answerable and guarantee their activities conform to statutory requirements and public standards. This action follows an $80 million penalty levied against Crown in May 2022 for their participation in a controversy involving the utilization of China UnionPay cards for gaming dealings.
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