Townsville-based Ville Resort Casino has been charged with violating the casino laws in Queensland only several days after the company operating a Cairns casino faced a monetary fine for involving in collaboration with a junket operator.
The gambling regulatory body of the state has held months of investigation over the allegations of an unlawful junket operation taking place at the luxury gambling venue after in February it learned some claims of unapproved junket agreements at the Ville Resort Casino.
Under the provisions of the Queensland casino legislation, certain arrangements or agreements, including ones with junket operators, need to be approved by competent regulators in order to take place. At the beginning of the week, the Office of Liquor and Gaming revealed that the Ville Resort Casino had been charged with violating two sections of the state’s Casino Control Act.
In August, the casino, which is currently owned by the business mogul Chris Morris, became subject to a media report claiming that the Ville Resort Casino had paid in cash and loyalty points to an illegal junket operator to lure big-spending customers to the gambling venue. At the time, the casino resort explained that the media report contained some factual inaccuracies and said that the casino operated legally.
The issue is set to be considered at a hearing at the Magistrates Court in Townsville in January 2023.
Cairns’ Reef Hotel Casino Faces AU$10,000 Fine for Collaborating with Illegal Junket
As Casino Guardian reported at the time, the operator of the Reef Hotel Casino in Cairns faced an AU$21,400 fine for paying a junket operator to attract high-rollers to the gambling venue.
Reportedly, Casino Austria International (Cairns) Pty Ltd paid Lawrence Fu 0.05% of the turnover generated by casino patrons who were brought to the venue by him. Unfortunately for the gambling operator, the agreement, which bought betting vouchers totalling AU$21,400 to Mr Fu, had not received written approval from the gaming minister or the state. That is exactly why the agreement between the Reef Hotel Casino owner and the junket operator was considered illegal and the gambling company suffered a monetary penalty.
Currently, such penalties are being reviewed by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation under the provisions of the state’s casino legislation.
Apart from getting approval from the competent gambling regulatory authorities, Queensland casinos are also required to self-report breaches and cooperate with the watchdog, which noted that additional reforms are set to be introduced in the state in 2023. A spokeswoman for Liquor, Gaming and Fair Trading noted that local casinos are expected to operate legally, ethically, and in a way that complies with the highest integrity standards to retain public confidence in the sector. She further shared that the court outcome against the company operating the Reef Hotel Casino signals the legislative approach that can be expected from the Office of Liquor and Gaming in case they fail to meet legislative and regulatory standards and requirements.
- Author
Olivia Cole
