Casino giant Crown has been fined $30 million by Victoria’s gambling watchdog after an investigation into undocumented bank cheques.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) found Crown allowed patrons to gamble by depositing uncleared bank cheques made out to themselves and not the company.
The practice was a “serious contravention” of laws designed to limit credit to gamblers and money laundering because it was undocumented, long-running and subverted controls, the watchdog said.
“This is the second time we’ve taken action on undocumented practices at the casino, and we will investigate further to ensure there are no more,” commission chair Fran Thorn said in a statement on Thursday.
“To be clear, we will not allow the casino to conceal its practices to avoid scrutiny.
“Practices like accepting bank cheques expose Crown to the risk of money laundering, put patrons at risk of gambling harm, and compromise our ability to ensure the casino runs with integrity, safety and fairness.”
A 2021 royal commission found the Southbank casino had breached its code of conduct for the responsible service of gambling over about 12 years.
The VGCCC also probed royal commission findings that Crown likely accepted blank cheques in exchange for gambling chips, but has decided there is insufficient evidence to establish it engaged in the practice.
The casino was fined $80 million in May for facilitating the illegal transfer of more than $160 million in funds between 2012 and 2016, and another $120 million in November for breaches of its responsible service of gambling obligations.
Crown has been approached for comment.
– AAP
