Melbourne Regulator Fines Crown & Bans It From Junket Operations

Crown Casino in Melbourne has been fined AU$1 million and banned from commencing any junket operations. The judgement by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation is the strongest fine the regulator can impose.

The judgement follows an investigation by the regulator that found Crown had failed in following regulations in relation to junket operations for International players.

In its findings the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation said: “The commission concluded that in respect of the analysed individuals, the processes implemented by Crown were not robust.”

The regulator went on to say the company failed in acquiring necessary information on junket players to make “informed decisions” about the suitability of those gamblers.

“This failure meant it was unclear how certain decisions were reached by Crown and whether such decisions were made with due regard to Crown’s regulatory obligations,” the commission went on to say.

In making the decision to fine Crown Melbourne the Commission and issuing a letter of censure banning the company from operating junkets, the regulator said, “the company failed to implement a robust process over a sustained period of time.”

Crown Melbourne and its parent company Crown Resorts are still awaiting a review by the Royal Commission there to decide if it is suitable to continue to hold a gaming license. The Royal Commission is due to make its findings and conclusion known to the Victorian Government by the 1^st August.