Crown Resorts to Pay Record Fines in Victoria

The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission has requested Crown Resorts, one of the most popular entertainment groups in the country to pay two fines of AU$120 million or US$77.4 million for a series of unlawful activities in this Australian state. Such news is not a big deal in the industry even when it comes to the online market. But with the online gambling sites with the best payouts, the chances of coming across a company that tries to bypass the laws are smaller.

The VGCC and Crown Resorts controversy and an AU$120 million fine

In its official statement, the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission says that the resort failed to follow its gambling obligations over the years. The main claim regards measures to prevent gambling harm at the Crown Melbourne casino in Victoria.

The VGCC regulates businesses that supply gambling services, ensures the integrity of the industry, and aims to minimize possible harm. That is why it is the body that all suppliers of gambling services face in the state.

According to the report, Crown Resorts knew that customers often gambled for more than 24 hours without a break and didn’t do anything to prevent it. In addition, the group didn’t comply with a direction to take all possible steps to prevent people from using automatic play modes and plastic picks at pokies. 

That is why the VGCC has issued two fines – AU$100 million regarding responsible gambling and protection of players and AU$20 million for button picking which is considered an illegal activity. Crown Resorts accepted this fine and said that it would do everything to address the issues and reform its policies in order to meet all gambling obligations.

The investigation was launched last year in February and aimed to evaluate the casino facility. The decision followed the royal commission which was headed by Ray Finkelstein KC. At the commission, the Crown accepted responsible gambling as its legal obligation. Fran Thorn, the VGCC chairperson said in an interview that for many years Crown Resort failed its obligations to minimize potential gambling risks to players, their friends, families, and communities. 

Thorn also said that the record fine of AU$120 million aimed to send a clear message to Crown and similar companies. The commission is not going to tolerate harm to the community and increase other related risks. He also urged all holders of gambling licenses to get familiar with the commission’s decision not to have similar problems in the future.

About Crown Resorts

It is one of the largest entertainment groups in Australia and is also considered a major contributor to the local economy. Crown Resorts owns facilities both inside and outside the country, promoting Australia in the international arena and attracting tourists as well. In Australia, Crown operates two of the leading integrated resorts – Crown Melbourne and Crown Pert, and a premium hotel Crown Sydney. 

Crown Melbourne is well-known to Aussies and foreigners as one of the most visited luxury destinations in the country. It has a large number of facilities and a beautiful design that doesn’t leave anyone indifferent. Crown Melbourne includes fancy rooms, award-winning restaurants, shopping centers, entertainment areas, and of course a world-class casino. Crown Perth is located in Western Australia and is similar to Crown Melbourne in terms of entertainment and fun. This destination includes a luxury hotel, convention centers, bars, and gaming rooms.

Overseas, the company owns Crown London Aspinalls, a private members club in West End that offers a unique gaming experience to the most demanding visitors. Crown Resorts also holds a 50% interest in Aspers Group located in the UK and 20% in Nobu. In addition, the group has shares of such digital businesses as DGN Games, Betfair Australia, and Chill Gaming.

A penalty that can make other resorts think

Both land-based and online casinos have to follow strict rules and laws in order to provide transparent services and ensure the safety of their players. Unfortunately, even big companies like Crown Resorts may fail to meet all the requirements and need to answer according to the law not to create precedents in the future. If you want to find out more about responsible gambling, read other articles by Grace Tennet at NZ CasinoHEX.