Crown probe: Casino may have breached gambling act by testing ‘blanking button’
IN an explosive revelation, Crown casino has confirmed it tested so-called “blanking buttons” on poker machines to limit options available to punters — and it may have broken the law.
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JAMES Packer’s Crown casino may have broken Victorian gambling rules by testing so-called “blanking buttons” which limit the options available to pokies players on some of its machines.
Victoria’s gambling watchdog said that it had “commenced disciplinary proceedings” against Crown, the Herald Sun first revealed on Monday.
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While the regulator hasn’t said what action it is taking, it can cancel, suspend or vary Crown’s casino licence, or issue the casino with a fine or letter of censure.
The controversy saw traders sell down the stock with about $214 million ripped off its market value on Monday, as shares closed down 2.3 per cent at $13.09.
A decision by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation could take up to two months.
In a statement to the stockmarket on Monday afternoon, Crown Resorts confirmed it had been informed by the regulator that it “may have breached the Gambling Regulation Act”.
The alleged breach revolves around the use of blanking buttons on a “limited number” of machines at Melbourne’s casino last year.
The “blanking buttons” tested by Crown effectively block various gambling options that would otherwise be available to punters.
Crown says it trialled the buttons on 17 of its 2628 machines for a three-week period from March to April last year.
Crown’s statement’s did not say why the “blanking buttons” were being trialed.
Crown on Monday said: “The commission’s view is that the trial involved varying a gaming machine type and certain games in a manner that required the commission’s prior approval”.
“Crown Melbourne’s position is that the trial did not require prior approval, and therefore there has been no contravention of the (gambling act),” the casino group said.
“Crown Melbourne has recently provided a detailed submission of its position to the commission, which Crown Melbourne understands the commission is currently considering.”
The commission said its investigation was already underway before independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie made a series of allegations directed at the casino last year.
Mr Wilkie, citing whistleblowers who were not identified, said Crown staff had been ordered to tamper with poker machines to ensure punters lost more money.
One man said in an interview conducted by one of Mr Wilkie’s staff at the time said: “The worst case was where they (Crown) asked us to remove three out of the five play options. They got rid of the 5, 10, 20 (line options), so your options were one — which is betting 2c on the middle line — or 40, which is all the combinations. So, you basically remove betting options from the machine.”
The commission said that it had investigated other claims tabled by Mr Wilkie and determined it had “no grounds to take further action” with regard to those allegations.
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