Ville Resort-Casino charged following junket crackdown

The Ville Resort-Casino will go before the courts for allegedly breaching laws designed to combat problem gambling.

• The Ville casino breaks silence over alleged high roller operation

The Ville Resort-Casino will go before the courts for allegedly breaching laws designed to combat problem gambling.

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation has reportedly been investigating allegations the luxury Townsville venue, owned by billionaire businessman Chris Morris, was involved in an unlawful junket operation.

It comes after the Cairns Reef Hotel Casino was recently fined $10,000 for running unapproved junkets that brought high rollers into Cairns, turning over more than $40m.

“Junkets” refer to trips paid by the casino to entice high rollers with a focus on wealthy gamblers, many from Asia, who are offered five-star treatment with air travel and accommodation.

The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville.

Under casino laws in Queensland, there is a requirement to obtain approval for certain agreements or arrangements, including junkets.

A spokesman for the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation confirmed it had charged the Ville Resort-Casino with breaching s. 73 and s. 84 of the Casino Control Act 1982.

The Ville Resort-Casino in Townsville.

The matter is listed for mention in the Townsville Magistrates Court in January 2023.

The Ville Resort-Casino has been contacted for comment.

The venue previously claimed there were several ‘factual inaccuracies’ in the reports by Fairfax and Nine media alleging impropriety.

There has been no suggestion The Ville owner Chris Morris, who bought the business in 2014, was at any point aware of any wrongdoing.

Originally published as Ville Resort-Casino charged following junket crackdown