WA casino watchdog ‘lacks people with gaming experience’

WA’s gaming regulator was overly focused on the ‘nuts and bolts’ of daily operations rather than overarching strategy.

Gaming and Wagering Commission member Steve Dobson leaves the royal commission. Picture: Colin Murty

A member of the regulatory body responsible for overseeing Crown’s Perth casino says the watchdog lacked the range of skills needed to forensically scrutinise the business.

Appearing before the Royal Commission into the Perth Casino, called to investigate how hundreds of millions of dollars were laundered through the venue, Steve Dobson agreed the Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC) was overly focused on the “nuts and bolts” of daily operations rather than overarching strategy.

Mr Dobson, a financial planner and former police officer who joined the GWC last year, said staff in the department were overworked and stressed due to a lack of resources and personnel.

He and fellow GWC members are paid $16,600 a year. He said the role required about eight hours a month of preparation, and six hours a month to attend the board meeting.

A typical GWC meeting would include approving new styles of electronic gaming machines – including 60 pages of documentation – and signing off on a fine for a casino employee who failed to inform the GWC of a traffic conviction ($500) and a fine for bringing a juvenile into the casino ($5000).

Asked to describe those agenda items, Mr Dobson said: “I would deem them petty.

“Boards primarily need to be there for strategic matters, not operational matters.”

Mr Dobson said he had not received nor sought formal training in relation to his role.

He said while fellow GWC members were experienced and competent, there was a lack of people with relevant gaming experience.