Crown Resorts will be allowed to retain the state’s sole licence to run the Melbourne casino, the Victorian gambling watchdog has ruled.
A Victorian royal commission in 2021 recommended Crown Melbourne be given two years to reform under the control of a special manager after concluding its conduct was “illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative.
On Tuesday, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) said it was in the public interest for Crown to retain its licence because it had addressed systemic failings identified in the royal commission.
“As the special manager has reported during our investigations, we have observed a very different Crown emerging, with a clear understanding of the privilege and obligations of holding the licence,” the VGCCC chair, Fran Thorn, said.
“The significant turnaround by Crown Melbourne does not mean that Crown Melbourne will never slip up again. And when this happens, we will act and we expect Crown Melbourne to act.”
Crown Melbourne’s chief executive, Mike Volkert, said the outcome was “one of the most significant milestones in Crown Melbourne’s 30-year history”.
“We know the work doesn’t stop here, and we are committed to delivering the highest industry standards and putting the welfare of our guests at the forefront of decision-making, day in and day out,” Volkert said in a statement.
Thorn said the commission’s work had found the “various suitability requirements” for the licence had been met.
Thorn said Victorians were entitled to have confidence that Crown Melbourne casino was being run “honestly and free of criminal influence and exploitation”.
“It is reasonable for us to say to the community that Crown have worked incredibly hard,” she said. “Crown is under totally new management and ownership, so it’s not the same people who were there that allowed the sins of the past to happen.”
The watchdog had fined Crown more than $250m while the financial watchdog Austrac fined it more than $450m, Thorn said.
But she stressed that the watchdog’s ruling did not mean it would not take action against Crown at a later date. She said the commission was considering other “matters” related to Crown.
“If there is any regression to old Crown, which was one that lied, obfuscated, used legal power to bully the commission, then Crown can be assured the full extent of the law will be brought against them,” Thorn said.
“If Crown is stupid enough to repeat the wrongdoing of the past, they can assume that that will be high on our agenda.”
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, said the government would consider whether there was “further work to do” based on the VGCCC’s report.
“We will look at that work to ensure that the illegal behaviour that we saw in the past is never allowed to happen again,” she said.
The state’s gaming minister, Melissa Horne, said she spoke to Volkert on Tuesday, and made it clear that if Crown deviated from the reform the government would “not hesitate to act” to introduce further legislation.
Thorn pointed to the Victorian government’s reforms she said would help ensure it would be almost impossible for Crown to repeat the issues uncovered in the royal commission. These changes include ensuring all its Victorian electronic gaming machines have carded play.
The anti-money laundering measure means games played on electronic machines will be linked to a person’s identity through their gaming card.
Thorn said the report from the special manager, which she said had been “living in the pockets of Crown for two years”, would be made public.
• In Australia, Gambling Help Online is available on 1800 858 858. The National Debt Helpline is at 1800 007 007. In the UK, support for problem gambling can be found via the NHS National Problem Gambling Clinic on 020 7381 7722, or GamCare on 0808 8020 133. In the US, call the National Council on Problem Gambling at 800-GAMBLER or text 800GAM.
