Wayne Carey brings in lawyers after ‘white substance’ scandal at Crown Casino

AFL great Wayne Carey has retained lawyers after a white powder scandal erupted at Crown Casino in Perth over the past week.

Wayne Carey has brought in lawyers after a white powder scandal erupted this week and may look to launch a lawsuit against Crown.

According to The Herald Sun, the 51-year-old was evicted from Crown Burswood on Thursday evening after a zip-lock bag containing a white substance dropped from his pocket onto a gaming room table.

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Carey, who commentates for Channel 7, was staying in Perth ahead of Saturday evening’s elimination final between Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs at Perth Stadium.

He has since stood down from media duties for Channel 7 and Triple M Footy.

The AFL great was reportedly banned from Crown Casinos for two years over the incident, but has maintained his stance the substance wasn’t illegal, it was instead an anti-inflammatory.

“It was not an illegal substance, it was offered to security. Security didn’t take it,” he said to The Age.

“They just said it’s not a great look, I understood that, and we left without incident.”

The Herald Sun reported security cameras captured the moment a bag of powder fell out of Carey’s pocket, with the alarm being raised by a croupier.

Police were not called at the time and the substance was not seized.

As the scandal goes on, Carey has since retained Josh Bornstein of Maurice Blackburn lawyers and will investigate whether a claim can be made against the casino.

“Mr Carey was ejected after Casino authorities saw a bag containing a white substance and despite Mr Carey’s denial made an incorrect assumption that the bag contained an illegal drug,” a statement from the law firm said.

“Mr Carey is prescribed anti-inflammatories and painkilling medicine to help manage the significant pain caused by debilitating football injuries – including a shoulder that needs replacing and a neck injury that requires three discs to be replaced.

“Mr Carey is distressed that the casino actions have led to media attention leaving the public to also wrongly assume the bag contained an illegal drug. He has also indicated that he would welcome a police investigation.”

Mr Bornstein confirmed Carey was weighing a potential claim against Crown Casino.

“We are considering whether Crown Casino unlawfully discriminated against Mr Carey by excluding him from its premises as a result of a pre-existing disability,” Mr Bornstein said.

Wayne Carey has brought in the lawyers. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch told 6PR on Wednesday that police were investigating but remained on “the back foot”.

“If there was any suspicion by any person that there were drugs possessed … I would have expected a phone call to police to manage the matter, if it was in fact drugs … we don’t have the drugs in our possession and neither do Crown,” he said.

Carey is scheduled to speak at a men’s mental health seminar in his home town of Wagga Wagga on Thursday, with organisers saying the event could be an ideal forum for Carey to open up about his troubles.

The event, hosted by The Good Blokes Society at the Wagga Wagga RSL, is open to the public, with tickets going for up to $250.

The highlight is sold as a “nothing-is-off-limits” interview with Carey.

Good Blokes Society founder Shaun Wallis said Carey would receive as much support as he needed from the group that assists men “battling their demons”.

“He might be happy to speak about it. What he’s commented so far is that there was nothing illegal,” Mr Wallis said.

“Wayne’s a great ambassador for the network and we’re 100 per cent behind him.”

Mr Wallis said he had spoken to Carey who was dealing with the allegations “as best he can”.

“He’s good. Obviously, there’s the attention and publicity and everything else, but he woke up on Tuesday morning and took the kids to school,” Mr Wallis said.

– with Duncan Murray, NCA Newswire