‘Gifts made me feel special’: Problem gamblers lay bare their struggles to Victoria’s Crown royal commission

Problem gamblers have spoken of ‘losing everything’ in anonymous submissions to Victoria’s Crown royal commission.

Problem gamblers have laid bare their struggles in submissions to the Victorian royal commission into Crown Resorts, detailing how they spent long hours sinking their fortunes into the casinos and “no one ever asked me if I was OK’.

In one anonymous submission, the writer said she would spend most or all of her weekly pay at Crown.

“I had a Crown loyalty card that gave me access to a special room, parking, free drinks which made me feel special,” the submission read.

“I was sometimes there at 6.30am pressing one-cent bets at a time just to keep going and my husband would ring me to see where I was.

“No one ever asked me if I was OK. I never saw them ask anyone else if they were OK.”

The writer estimates having spent “at least” $600,000 on gambling.

“I’ve wasted so much money that I could have used to secure my future. I’ve wasted part of my life that could have been so different.”

Others alleged Crown had given them gifts, including food, to bring them in.

Former Federal Court judge Raymond Finkelstein is overseeing Victoria's royal commission into Crown. Picture: James Ross/AAP

In an another anonymous submission, the writer alleged they were given free flights and accommodation, with the host stipulating the gifts required them to bring a specific amount of money.

On one occasion, that was $10,000, which they borrowed, and they were offered $1500 worth of free chips to gamble.

“If I introduce my friends, and if the friends carry big amount of money … to gamble, they will be also be provided with free tickets and hotel,” the submission read.

“If my friends play big, host will keep continue coming after me.

“Crown knows how to entice us (patrons) into the endless circle.”

The company announced in November it would cease all activity with ‘junket’ tour operators at the centre of last year’s NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority inquiry, where evidence emerged some groups - with known links to organised crime - had laundered money through Crown’s Melbourne and Perth casinos.

The junkets mainly involved Asian high-rollers, who were lured to gamble at Crown with free accommodation, food, drinks and other gifts.

“Crown will only recommence dealing with a junket operator if that junket operator is licensed or otherwise approved or sanctioned by all gaming regulators in the states in which Crown operate,” the casino giant said at the time.

The probe is determining whether Crown can keep the gaming licence for its Melbourne casino. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Luis Ascui

Another anonymous writer said in his submission to the Victorian probe he had lost everything – his marriage, home, job and “time and chances to watch my kids grow up and to bond with them” after his gambling spiralled out of control and got him into trouble with the law.

Another person claimed in an unnamed submission their gambling debts had made them so desperate they stole from family and friends, dealt drugs and ultimately tried to take their own life.

Many submissions were critical of Crown having a monopoly in the Melbourne gambling market, while others who had been deemed “advantage players” after consistently winning complained about being treated aggressively and/or excluded from the venues.

Other submissions included the Monash Addiction Research Centre, which called for regulatory attention to suburban pubs and clubs, where $2.7bn was lost on pokie machines annually compared with $1.7bn at casinos, according to 2021 data from the Queensland Government’s Statisticians Office.

Crown said on Monday it would not comment while the royal commission was underway.

Problem gamblers have told the royal commission they lost everything after no-one intervened. Picture: Sebastien Bozon/AFP

After Victoria’s Acting Premier James Merlino last week granted a request to continue the investigation until mid-October, Crown’s executive chairman Helen Coonan said any shortcomings identified by the probe would be addressed.

“The board and I are committed to making Crown a stronger, more transparent and respected company,” Ms Coonan said.

“We have initiated a sweeping program of significant reforms, enhancements and personnel changes.

“We cannot change the past, but we can be absolutely steadfast in the approach we take to driving the culture and transparency of the company into the future”.

Mr Merlino also agreed to increase the royal commission’s funding from $10m to $19.75m, saying Commissioner Raymond Finkelstein was now investigating a wider range of matters due to the seriousness of evidence produced so far.

“This relates to the corporate culture of Crown Melbourne, gambling harm minimisation and claims brought forward in evidence so far – including allegations Crown Melbourne underpaid casino tax,” a state government announcement on Friday read.

Helen Coonan says Crown has initiated a sweeping program of significant reforms, enhancements and personnel changes. Picture: Adam Yip

The Victorian investigation will determine if Crown is fit to hold a gaming licence for its Melbourne casino, while a separate royal commission is doing the same for its Perth venue.

The damning findings of the ILGA inquiry led to Crown being deemed unfit to hold a gaming licence for its new $2.2bn Sydney casino, which has only been operating non-gambling aspects of the business such as a hotel and restaurants.

Originally published as ‘Gifts made me feel special’: Problem gamblers lay bare their struggles to Victoria’s Crown royal commission