Under section 25 of the Casino Control Act 1991, the VCGLR is required to review the suitability of Crown’s casino licence in intervals that do not exceed five years. Crown Melbourne’s social distancing policy has reportedly been approved by the Victorian Chief Health Officer. Yes, major Melbourne icons like the National Gallery of Victoria have been forced to. Crown will co-operate with Victoria’s VCGLR casino probe. Crown Resorts says it will ‘work cooperatively with Victorian authorities after they brought a review into the state’s only casino. James Packer has sold almost half his stake in Crown Resorts for $1.76 billion to a Macau-based entertainment company. Key points: In a statement, CPH said it made the move in order to diversify. Crown’s suitability to hold Victorian casino licence probed after money-laundering revelations A major investigation has been launched into Melbourne’s Crown Casino after explosive revelations. Josh Fagan, Rebekah Cavanagh and Tom Minear December 17, 2020 - 12:00AM.

Crown Casino Melbourne News Today Online
Crown Casino Melbourne News Today News
Crown Casino Melbourne News Today 2020

Crown Resorts was arrogant towards regulatory compliance and didn't properly act on money laundering red flags, an inquiry into the company suitability to run a new $2.2 billion Sydney casino has heard. The Barangaroo premises, slated to open in mid December, is under a massive cloud amid the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority probe. The regulator is reportedly set to meet with Crown on November 18 to discuss whether to push back, or put conditions on, the casino's opening. Lawyers assisting the inquiry have argued Crown is not fit to hold the Barangaroo licence due to its poor culture, lack of risk management procedures and links to dodgy junket operators. In concluding her final submissions on Monday, counsel assisting Naomi Sharp said evidence across the hearings had shown Crown had an 'arrogant indifference' to regulatory compliance. '(There is a) culture of denial and an unwillingness to examine past failings. And .. a culture which has prioritised the pursuit of profit above all else,' she said. Counsel assisting Scott Aspinall said transactions uncovered during the hearings showed Crown was either ignorant or apathetic about the money laundering risks involving two subsidiary companies. 'It's open for you to find that money laundering did occur,' he told inquiry commissioner Patricia Bergin. He said money was moved through companies Southbank and Riverbank from 2014-17 by 'smurfing', a process of splitting up money in smaller deposits to avoid detection. There were also examples cash was deposited anonymously to those companies, he said. ANZ in 2014 raised 'red flags' with Crown about Southbank and Riverbank and eventually shut down their accounts with the bank. Mr Aspinall said Crown failed to properly investigate why, and the problems persisted for years. The lawyer representing Crown, Neil Young, is set to address the allegations in his closing submissions on November 16. Mr Young said CCTV vision aired at the inquiry showing a bag full of cash being unloaded at one of Crown's high-roller rooms in Melbourne was not definitive proof of money laundering. But he did concede it amounted to a 'suspicious matter'. 'We will also explain in our submissions that Crown has taken steps to prevent such events ever recurring,' he said. Many of Crown's cultural problems stem from the 'dubious tone' set by former executive chairman and major shareholder, James Packer, the inquiry has previously heard. Lawyers representing Mr Packer's company Consolidated Press Holdings, which holds a 36.8 per cent stake in Crown, will address the inquiry on Wednesday. Commissioner Bergin, who is expected to produce a final report by February, may recommend the licence agreement for the new casino be terminated, suspended, or have new conditions added. Australian Associated Press

Victoria's gambling regulator and the State Government are under increasing pressure over its handling of Crown Casino after the gaming giant admitted money laundering was likely to have occurred at its Melbourne and Perth casinos.

The admission to a NSW inquiry has prompted that state's regulator to delay the opening of Crown's new multi-billion-dollar casino in Sydney.

The NSW inquiry is assessing Crown Resorts' suitability to hold a casino licence.

The revelations in Sydney about Crown's Melbourne operations have raised fresh questions over the effectiveness of the Victoria Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) which has been approached with multiple complaints about Crown in recent years.

and The Age have exposed allegations of money laundering, links to criminal groups and overseas junket operators.

The VCGLR has issued a show cause notice to Crown over its junket operations — in which cashed-up overseas gamblers are lured to Crown. The nation's anti-money laundering body AUSTRAC is also investigating issues at the casino.

As previously reported by the ABC, there are concerns from within the VCGLR that issues at Crown are not being taken seriously by the watchdog.

Gambling reform advocate says political donations helped Crown avoid scrutiny

Tim Costello, the chief advocate for the Alliance for Gambling Reform, said Crown's 'bombshell' admission that money laundering was likely occurring in Melbourne and Perth was 'simply extraordinary' and should be of concern to all Australians.

'It says it [Crown] has been a criminal enterprise,' he said.

'There has been wholesale money laundering going on and Crown admitted it [on Wednesday] after effectively hiding it for most of the inquiry.

'This is quite an astonishing finding that every Australian should be shaking in their boots that this has gone on for so long.'

Mr Costello said the revelations should put the spotlight back on the VCGLR and the national corporate regulator ASIC.

He has also criticised Crown's influence over Victorian politicians on both sides of the aisle.

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Free money to play casino. He said the gaming giant's ties to Spring Street accounted for why allegations of criminal activity in Melbourne's casinos had gone without consequence for so long.

'Crown has captured politics [and] the politicians are silent because it gives great donations to both sides of politics,' Mr Costello said.

'That is why it has taken a New South Wales inquiry to really expose massive laundering and criminal activity here in Melbourne.'

In 2017-18, Crown donated $35,000 to Victorian Labor and $30,000 to Victorian Liberals.

Mr Costello said he expected far-reaching organisational change at Crown with an 'embarrassed' board facing fallout from the inquiry.

'They've got to turn over most of their board. They have been utterly exposed and they have effectively just been puppets of James Packer,' he said.

'James Packer is almost certainly going to have to sell out and hand over to someone who can pass the probity test in holding a licence.'

Crown won't have licence suspended in Melbourne

Premier Daniel Andrews said the casino would not have its licence suspended in the wake of the money laundering admission but said the regulator would make further inquiries.

He also said the Government would closely examine the final report from NSW, due early next year.

'There is a sacred trust when it comes to these licences, and they need to be complied with,' Mr Andrews said.

The Opposition and the Greens have been critical of the VCGLR for not acting quick enough on Crown Casino.

Liberal leader Michael O'Brien said the commission was 'asleep at the wheel', while Greens MP Ellen Sandell said the Government must terminate Crown's licence.

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Mr Andrews,