The investigation of the Western Australia’s Royal Commission into Crown Perth is set to check the gambling industry’s regulation in the state.
A short public hearing of the Perth Casino Royal Commission took place on April 12th, ahead of other hearings that are set to be held next month.
Neville Owen, the former WA Supreme Court judge, is the Chair of the Royal Commission that is investigating the Australian casino giant. At the beginning of the week, Justice Owen officially opened the proceedings against Crown Resort’s gambling venue in Perth, explaining that they fell into two large and interconnected areas, including the legal framework regulating the gambling industry in Western Australia on one hand, and the suitability of Crown Perth to keep its casino operating licence.
As Casino Guardian previously reported, the Royal Commission was established in the state following the results of the inquiry held into the gambling company in New South Wales. At the time, the damning report of Commissioner Bergin’s report found that Crown Resorts was not fit to hold the licence for its new Barangaroo casino in Sydney.
The investigation headed by the former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergin unveiled some issues associated with poor governance, money laundering and partnering with so-called junket operators associated with criminal organisations to attract foreign high-roller customers to its Australian casinos.
Royal Commission in WA to Collaborate with Other Ongoing Probes into Crown Resorts
At the time when Commissioner Bergin published her report, it became clear that many of the report’s findings were based on staff members’ and patrons’ behaviour that has led to certain incidents at the gambling giant’s casino in Melbourne. Furthermore, a Royal Commission has already been appointed in the state of Victoria, while instances of money laundering in Crown Resorts’ casino in Perth were also reported.
Soon after Ms Bergin handed down her report, the Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC), the gambling regulatory body of Western Australia, made a recommendation for an independent probe to be held into the company’s operations so that the competent authorities to check whether Crown Resorts is suitable to keep its casino licence in the state.
Earlier in April, the Attorney-General of Western Australia – John Quigley – revealed that even though the inquiry would have the powers of the Royal Commission, the Commissioner would not be provided with the special protections and immunities available under the Royal Commissions Act. As revealed by Justice Owen, the state’s Commission is set to work in collaboration, when possible, with the three other similar investigations that are currently being held into Crown Resorts’ operations, even though all of them are at different stages of proceedings.
The Royal Commission is expected to be ready with its interim report by the end of June 2021. The report will involve some matters associated with the regulation of gambling in the state of Western Australia, with several hearings scheduled for May that are set to provide additional information on the issue. The final report of the WA Royal Commission, along with any recommendations associated with the findings, is expected to be issued by November 14th.
- Author
Daniel Williams
