Only a few days after Commissioner Bergin’s report on Crown Resorts’ suitability to hold an operating licence for its Barangaroo casino resort was made public, the Australian advisory group on gambling legislation, regulation and compliance Senet has unveiled a new accreditation tool.
As Casino Guardian already revealed, the casino giant is currently facing serious issues in Australia and has been suspended from operating its newest casino in the state of New South Wales (NSW) because of multiple issues associated with poor management, money laundering, etc. In light of the recent events, Senet plans on helping the Australian gambling industry stay “on the light side” by unveiling its new compliance accreditation program. The latter has been specially designed to fight potential money laundering and gambling-related harm.
For the time being, the accreditation given by Senet Assure and Senet Assure Premium is considered one of the methods that provide gambling operators with the chance to guarantee more diligence to their services. As explained by Paul Newton, a regulatory and gambling expert at Senet, the newly-announced accreditation will be considered a crucial instance of approval given by the Australian gambling advisory group only to gambling companies that can prove the highest level of vigilance.
Mr Newton further noted that the accreditation is set to be given when a gambling company proves it is committed to the responsible gaming culture policy.
Crown Resorts Would Also Get the Chance to Qualify for Accreditation Despite Bergin’s Report
Of course, the newly-announced accreditation program of Senet does not come as a direct response to the recent regulatory investigation faced by Crown Resorts, but the controversy associated with the Australian gambling giant in the past few years has probably played a role in the way the local advisory group formulated its new programme.
Apart from that, Senet is also responding to NSW Crime Commission’s concerns that have recently predicted that the country could see an increase in financial crime. The regulatory body asserts that there is a chance for money-laundering activity to spread to new areas as criminals and criminal organisations have been looking for some new targets.
Senets’ regulatory and gambling specialist Mr Newton shared that the newly-unveiled accreditation was developed thanks to the deep knowledge of the challenges and complexities that gambling companies are facing in 2021, especially when it comes to their commitment to stick to responsible gambling outcomes and do not involve themselves with any criminal activity. On the other hand, receiving the accreditation is a way for the leading players in the country’s gambling sector to demonstrate they adhere to the highest accountability standards and follow the best practices when it comes to customer protection, social responsibility policies and compliance.
Furthermore, it would not be impossible for Crown Resorts to qualify for Senet’s accreditation, as the company is working to improve its compliance with gambling regulators’ rules. After the announcement of Commissioner Bergin’s report, the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) said that the Australian gambling giant could still be given the chance to operate its new Barangaroo casino by May 2021, but only in case it demonstrates a significant change in its internal culture policies.
- Author
Daniel Williams
