The damning Bergin report into Crown Resorts was right to highlight the failure of the Commonwealth financial crime regulator to stop money laundering at the gaming giant’s casinos, an integrity watchdog says, and is evidence that an independent casino commission is needed.

Anthony Whealy, SC, a former NSW Supreme Court judge and chairman of the watchdog group, the Centre for Public Integrity, said the state government should back the Independent Casino Commission recommended by the Bergin report, which found money laundering regulation had failed and was far too opaque.