Crown Resorts controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile10 entries
2023
CEO access allegations
Crown investigated allegations that Ciaran Carruthers had permitted restricted patrons to access gaming areas. The internal review later cleared him.
2022
Chinese bank-card transaction penalty
Crown Melbourne was penalized for processing Chinese bank-card transactions as hotel-related spending when they were connected to casino activity.
2021
Regulatory findings on money laundering and suitability
The New South Wales inquiry found serious deficiencies in anti-money-laundering controls, governance and relationships with junket operators, concluding that Crown was unsuitable to operate gaming in NSW without reform.
2021
Victoria fines Crown Resorts $1 million over junket due diligence
Fine or penalty
Victoria's gambling regulator fined Crown Resorts $1 million for failing to vet high-roller junket tour partners for criminal links and other probity issues. The regulator said Crown breached its regulatory obligations by failing to have a robust process to assess the ongoing probity of junket entities.
Source excerpt
The VCGLR said on Tuesday it had determined the casino was in breach of its regulatory obligations by failing to have a “robust process to consider the ongoing probity of junket entities”.
Crown Resorts has been slapped with a $1 million fine by Victoria’s gambling regulator over its failure to vet high-roller “junket” tour partners for criminal links and other probity issues.
The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) said on Thursday the fine was the maximum amount it could impose on the James Packer-backed casino group for failing to comply with its regulatory obligations.
2021
Crown Resorts gambling practices scrutinized at royal commission
Issue disclosure
At Victoria’s royal commission into Crown’s licence, evidence described Crown’s gambling time limits and monitoring practices as inconsistent with academic advice; the inquiry also heard that a patron gambled for 34 hours before staff intervened. Crown’s general manager acknowledged that its policies had for years been inconsistent with the best available research on responsible gambling.
Company response
Remediation — Crown
In a 11th hour pledge to overhaul its responsible gaming practices submitted to the royal commission last week, Crown has proposed limiting Australian patrons to a maximum of 12 hours gambling within any 24-hour period
Source excerpt
Ms Bauer agreed with counsel assisting the inquiry Adrian Finanzio, SC, that for years, Crown’s policies were inconsistent with the best available research on responsible gambling.
The James Packer-backed casino giant’s policies were not only inconsistent with academic advice but sometimes not enforced, Victoria’s royal commission into Crown’s licence heard on Wednesday.
One patron went on a 34-hour gambling binge at the casino in 2019 before staff intervened, the royal commission heard, and even then was only asked to take an eight-hour break rather than the 24 hours outlined in Crown’s policy.
2021
Victoria announces royal commission into Crown Resorts
Investigation
The Victorian government announced a royal commission into Crown Resorts to determine whether it was suitable to hold a casino licence in the state, following a New South Wales inquiry that found the group unfit to hold a licence at its Sydney venue. The article also reports allegations of poor governance and money laundering.
Stated objective. Determine whether Crown Resorts is suitable to hold a casino licence in Victoria.
Source excerpt
The decision came amid allegations of poor governance and money laundering, including at Melbourne's Crown Casino.
Crown director Harold Mitchell has stepped down after the Victorian government announced it will hold a royal commission into Crown Resorts to determine if it is suitable to hold a casino licence in the state.
2021
Crown Resorts chair apologizes and pledges company-wide change
Company response
Following a report about Crown Resorts' connections with organised crime, Crown chair Helen Coonan apologized for the findings and said the company needed root-and-branch change. She said changes had commenced and that Crown would implement necessary reforms.
Stated objective. Bring the company into line with regulations.
Company response
Apology — Crown Resorts
The chair of Crown Resorts has apologised unreservedly for the findings in a damning report into its connections with organised crime
Remediation — Crown Resorts
This change has commenced.
Source excerpt
The chair of Crown Resorts has apologised unreservedly for the findings in a damning report into its connections with organised crime, promising "root and branch" change at the company.
In a message to shareholders this morning, Crown chair Helen Coonan said the board owed it to the 20,000 employees who work at the company to bring it into line with regulations.
"We do not underestimate the scale of the problem and appreciate there is a need for 'root and branch' change. This change has commenced.
2020
Jenny Jiang announces lawsuit against Crown Resorts
Lawsuit filed
Former Crown Resorts employee Jenny Jiang said she was suing Crown Resorts for damages, with her claim being filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Her lawyer said she was seeking compensation over alleged breaches of the duty of care Crown owed her as an employer.
Source excerpt
Ms Jiang has now revealed she is suing Crown for damages.
Her lawyer, Jeremy King from Robinson Gill Lawyers, said Ms Jiang was seeking compensation against Crown Resorts in respect to breaches of the duty of care it owed her as an employer.
7.30 understands Ms Jiang's claim is being filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria on Tuesday.
2019
Crown Unmasked and junket allegations
Media investigations alleged breaches of Chinese gambling restrictions, problematic junket relationships and weaknesses in Crown’s controls over high-value customers. Crown denied the claims and described the reporting as misleading.
2016
Illegal betting advertising
CrownBet was convicted of five New South Wales offences involving prohibited betting advertising and inducements.