Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Michael Ramsey

WA government retains control of casino oversight

Crown has been given two years to improve its running of the Perth casino. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Western Australia's government will retain control over who sits on the Perth casino regulatory body despite concerns voiced by a royal commission.

The McGowan government on Thursday released its formal response to the inquiry, supporting 49 of the recommendations and backing a further eight in principle.

One other suggestion was not applicable due to WA's ban on pokies outside of the casino.

Partial support was provided to a recommendation for the Gaming and Wagering commission to develop a "member skills matrix" and a nominations committee.

The royal commission last year found Crown Resorts was unsuitable to run the state's casino but gave the operator two years to clean up its act under independent monitoring.

It found Crown and its subsidiaries facilitated money laundering at the casino, failed to implement systems to detect suspicious transactions and permitted junkets with criminal links to operate at the Burswood complex.

The inquiry highlighted a lack of casino regulation experience among Gaming and Wagering Commission members, some of whom held close relationships with Crown staff.

It was told the commission had opted not to investigate allegations of money laundering against Crown after the the company's "persuasive" former legal boss told them it was a media beat-up.

While he supported the recommendation for a skills matrix, Racing and Gaming Minister Reece Whitby said a nominations committee was unnecessary.

"Under the act it's my responsibility to make those appointments, so I think that is the right way to proceed," he told reporters.

"I think if you look at the membership that we've got at the moment, it's absolutely spot on."

The McGowan government is rewriting the state's gaming laws and has increased the maximum penalty for non-compliance by the operator to $100 million.

It has appointed an independent chair and six new members to the Gaming and Wagering Commission and tasked former assistant police commissioner Paul Steel with overseeing the casino's remediation process.

Crown has been directed to implement a $10 per spin maximum bet on electronic gaming machines on the main casino floor from July 1.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.