This week, Perth Casino Royal Commission heard that state regulators were unwilling to check the venue about some potential criminal risks that might have occurred. This has been considered one of the most scandalous revelations made before the Royal Commission, even amid allegations of criminal infiltration and money laundering the Crown Resorts’ gambling facility in Perth.
When asked how they used to monitor money laundering, Barry Sargeant, the former chair of the Gaming and Wagering Commission in Western Australia, explained that he thought such monitoring and control was carried out by the state’s Police and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). He shared that he relied on them to raise issues with the regulator rather than the other way around.
Mr Sargeant also shared that no formal information-sharing agreement has ever been initiated by him.
Michael Connolly, who many have considered the most important bureaucrat in casino monitoring, also seemed unaware of the potential problem associated with junket operators partnerships and their associated links to criminal organisations, as well as with money laundering.
During the evidence sessions held throughout the week, Mr Connolly was mentioned as one of the most powerful bureaucrats when it comes to the regulation of Crown Perth. Apart from taking the positions of chief casino officer, deputy chair of Western Australia’s gambling regulator and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries’ deputy director-general, he also effectively controlled the agenda of the local gambling watchdog.
Possible Conflict of Interests to Be Reviewed by the Royal Commission
As the Royal Commission heard, Mr Connolly maintained friendships with some of the leading officials at Crown Perth, including the casino’s head of legal and compliance department Claude Marais. His personal relationships with Perth casino officials became the reason why Mr Connolly decided to resign from the position of chief casino officer. Now, the Royal Commission will also have to review possible conflict of interest, which could be a major problem for both the gambling operator and MR Connolly’s powers in casino regulation in Western Australia.
As Casino Guardian previously reported, one of the most serious issues is the fact that the state’s Gaming and Wagering Commission might nave not been independent, although by law it must have been chaired by the head of the relevant government department.
Yesterday, Premier Mark McGowan announced some official changes to the leadership of 8 state government departments, with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industry being one of them. The director-general of the Department, Duncan Ord, will step down from his position on May 31st, but his official retirement has been left for August this year. Following his departure at the end of the month, Mr Ord is set to be replaced by Lanie Chopping, who will act as a director-general while a recruitment process is undertaken.
- Author
Daniel Williams
