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 forward by three years.

The NSW inquiry into Crown’s casino gaming licence has brought forward Victoria’s review into the company by three years. Picture: Getty Images

Crown Resorts says it will “work cooperatively” with the Victorian gambling and liquor regulator after the Andrews government ordered a review into the company’s suitable to hold a licence for its flagship casino in Melbourne.

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) has brought its review into Crown’s Southbank entertainment complex forward by three years, citing the explosive revelations around the NSW Bergin inquiry, including evidence of money laundering.

It is the seventh review into Crown’s Southbank licence, with the last concluding in 2018. The next review was not supposed to be held until 2023 until the Andrews government intervened causing yet another dramatic blow in James Packer’s casino empire.

In a short, six sentence statement, Crown said it has “actively engaged with the VCGLR in relation to matters the subject” of the NSW inquiry, “including on Crown’s reform agenda”.

“Crown will continue to work cooperatively with the VCGLR to support this review,” the statement said.

The Victorian review comes a day after the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA) gave Crown the go ahead to begin opening the non-gaming areas of its Barangaroo resort in Sydney from December 28 – just in time for New Year’s Eve.

“The licence issued … has been issued on an interim basis, with an end date of April 30 2021,” ILGA said in a statement.

“This will enable ILGA to consider any suitability concerns arising from the Bergin Inquiry following the handing down of the report due early next year, before making a further decision regarding an extension to the licence.”

The Andrews government had been criticised for failing to order an investigation into Crown in the wake of the allegations in NSW.

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.

Victorian Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister Melissa Horne said although the NSW inquiry will hand down its findings in February, but there was “a need for immediate response in Victoria given concerning evidence presented throughout the course of the NSW investigation.

“We’re making sure Crown Melbourne conducts its business in a transparent and appropriate manner,” Ms Hornse said.

“This review is needed given the evidence we’ve seen come out of the NSW inquiry. It’s appropriate to bring forward the next review to ensure Crown Melbourne is suitable to hold a licence in Victoria.”

Underlining the seriousness of the investigation, Ms Horne said a dedicated commissioner would be appointed to the VCGLR to investigate the suitability of Crown Casino to hold Victoria’s only casino licence.

She said the sessional commissioner would be appointed soon, and would report its findings to the minister in 2021. The “government will take any appropriate and necessary action at the conclusion of the investigation,” she said.

Mr Packer, who has fronted the NSW inquiry, is the gambling giant’s biggest shareholder with 37 per cent of the company’s stock.

Crown’s Southbank complex turns over billions of dollars a year and is considered the heart of the empire. It employs 10,000 staff, making it Melbourne’s biggest private employer.

Originally published as Crown will co-operate with Victoria’s VCGLR casino probe