Legal representatives for the Victorian Royal Commission have determined that Crown Resorts is unfit to retain its casino license.
Following an inquiry into Crown Resorts, attorneys for the Victorian Royal Commission reached the verdict that the gaming enterprise is unqualified to maintain its casino permit. This decision follows hearings that exposed a history of lapses in security, irresponsible administrative conduct, and a disregard for responsible gaming protocols.
The commission’s chief counsel, Adrian Finanzio, declared that “the evidence presented to the commission unequivocally demonstrates that Crown is currently unsuitable to hold a casino license.” He added that the evidence revealed “grave misconduct, unlawful activities, improper behavior, all fostered or enabled by a culture that prioritized financial gain above all else.”
This aligns with the conclusions of the Bergin Report, which investigated Crown Resorts’ operations in New South Wales and ultimately resulted in the company forfeiting its license in that jurisdiction. The report cited comparable shortcomings in anti-money laundering procedures and a culture that placed profit over accountability.
Premier Daniel Andrews initiated the Victorian Royal Commission in response to the Bergin Report, pledging to revoke Crown’s Melbourne casino license if the commission advised such action. The commission also unearthed a substantial sum of unpaid taxes, potentially approaching AU$480 million (US$351.4 million), owed by Crown to the state. To date, Crown has only consented to remit AU$50 million of this amount.
Finanzio emphasized that Crown Resorts had failed to fulfill its obligations in preventing potential money laundering operations.
The gaming corporation, Crown Resorts, faces serious allegations of fiscal impropriety and an inability to curb unlawful actions within its establishments. A legal representative connected to the proceedings asserted that permitting Crown to retain its gaming permit would be challenging to defend considering the magnitude of its wrongdoings. He posited that the entity’s standing has been irrevocably tarnished, rendering restructuring insufficient to reinstate public confidence. The sole rational outcome, he contended, is that Crown Resorts should be prohibited from holding a gaming license.
