Australian gambling operator Crown Resorts has promised to bring some changes to its responsible gambling program in what was described as the last-hour admission after the company has failed to limit the harm inflicted to problem gamblers in its casinos.
Earlier today, Adrian Finanzio, SC, who is the counsel assisting the inquiry, shared there was evidence of serious failures of Crown Resorts when it comes to the implementation of the responsible gaming code of conduct that the authorities required of its casino in Melbourne. As Mr Finanzio explained, it seems that the Australian casino giant had the technology and financial stability to take further measures to limit the gambling-related harm to problem gamblers at its Melbourne casino but it probably lacked the motivation to do so.
The inquiry heard that last week, the gambling operator’s lawyers wrote to the Royal Commission to inform it that the company’s board had decided to implement some changes to its responsible gambling program. Crown Resorts has resolved to impose some gambling time limits for customers and to increase the number of its gaming floors’ staff members so that they monitor for gambling-related harm.
According to Mr Finanzio, some of the measures among the proposed changes are associated with Crown Resorts’ practices that have been inconsistent with the required responsible gaming measures for a long time.
Crown Resorts Failed to Comply with Responsible Gambling Requirements
As mentioned above, the counsel further noted that the Australian gambling giant’s decision to bring some changes to its responsible gambling practices has come at the last minute before the Royal Commission hearings on the topic to be held and this should be taken into account.
Mr Finanzio explained that obvious and systematic inadequacies in the gambling operator’s resources, systems and policies associated with minimisation of gambling-related harm were found. He further criticised Crown Resorts for doing nothing to comply with the requirements at the time even though the code clearly demands action. As he shared, the Royal Commission would be able to conclude that the failures of the operator to be in line with the responsible gambling code are serious and persistent.
Crown Resorts withheld the minutes from its board meeting that took place on May 24th, which had been requested by the Commission. As revealed by Mr Finanzio, the evidence before the inquiry suggested that customers who gambled at Crown Casino Melbourne were three times more likely to face gambling-related harm in comparison to people who gamble at other venues across the state.
During the inquiry, evidence was found that some gambling addicts were driven to take their own lives, while others became victims to loan sharks some of whom forced them to smuggle drugs or start prostituting in order to pay their debts.
Currently, the casino licence of Crown Melbourne is being examined by the Royal Commission in Victoria following the damning report of the NSW Commissioner found the gambling operator unsuitable to hold its casino operating licence in the state. According to the findings of Commissioner Bergin’s report, Crown Resorts had done nothing to prevent money laundering at its casinos in Melbourne and Perth and used junket operators’ services linked to foreign criminal organisations.
- Author
Olivia Cole
