Wayne Carey forced off air, banned from Crown after white powder saga

Western Australian police have launched an investigation into Wayne Carey’s white powder scandal at Perth’s Crown casino.

Western Australian police are launching an investigation after Wayne Carey was kicked out of Perth’s Crown casino over a bag of white powder.

The 51-year-old was gambling at Crown Burswood last Thursday night when a zip-lock bag containing a white powder dropped from his pocket on to a gaming room table.

A WA Police spokesperson on Tuesday said detectives had since been alerted to the incident.

“WA Police Force has become aware of an incident at a casino in Burswood on (Thursday September 1 2022) in which it is believed a person dropped a bag containing a small amount of an unknown white powder,” the spokeperson said.

“The matter was not reported to police at the time, and the suspicious powder was not seized by security. An investigation into the incident has been commenced by Perth detectives.”

Seven West Media chief James Warburton said he would not comment on the Carey-Crown incident until the station’s internal probe was complete.

“We’ll do a proper investigation”, Warburton said.

Asked how long the Seven investigation would take, he said: “I’m not going to prejudice an investigation”.

Wayne Carey with his then-fiancee Kate Neilson.

The football great has been slammed by his ex.

Earlier on Tuesday, Carey’s ex-fiancee lashed the AFL legend for failing to learn from his mistakes.

“He hasn’t got a great track record for learning his lesson. Only time will tell,” Kate Neilson said.

“He is like a cat with nine lives.”

After the bag was found, a croupier activated an alarm and casino security personnel were called, who then questioned the former AFL star.

Carey admitted to security guards that the bag of white substance was his, though sources close to the Australian Football Hall of Fame member on Monday night insisted it contained “crushed up anti-inflammatory drugs”.

CCTV footage at the table apparently confirmed that the powder had come from his pocket.

The two-time North Melbourne premiership captain was told he would be issued with a “withdrawal of licence” notice – a ban from all Crown properties for a minimum of two years, sources have told the Herald Sun.

When management realised he was also staying at Crown Promenade, he was evicted from the hotel.

He had been staying at the accommodation prior to his TV coverage role for the Fremantle-Western Bulldogs clash at Perth Stadium on Saturday night.

Carey will be prohibited from attending Channel 7’s telecast of the Brownlow. Picture: Getty

The football great has stood down from Channel 7 and been banned from Crown Resorts premises for two years.

Carey has also been “relieved of his on-air duties” on Triple M Footy.

Contacted about the incident on Monday night, Lewis Martin, Channel 7’s managing director in Melbourne, said: “I have spoken to Wayne and he has agreed to stand aside, pending an investigation.”

A Triple M spokesperson said: “Commentator Wayne Carey and Triple M have agreed for Wayne to be relieved of his on-air duties pending an internal investigation … following an incident at Crown Burswood in Perth.”

After initially declining to comment, Carey later said on Monday night: “It was not an illegal substance, it was offered to security. Security didn’t take it. They just said it’s not a great look, I understood that, and we left without incident.”

He insisted the bag contained “crushed up anti-inflammatory drugs” he used for pain.

Carey confirmed that he found another hotel to stay in.

It is understood only police would have the authority to seize and test a substance from a patron.

Carey’s casino ban would have prohibited him from attending Seven’s telecast of this month’s Brownlow Medal count at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne, even if he had not stood down.

Wayne Carey clashes with former teammate Anthony Stevens in 2003.

Carey was escorted from the casino and evicted from the hotel. Picture: Sharon Smith

Asked about the Carey ban on Monday, a Crown spokesperson said: “We are aware of a recent incident at Crown Perth where a patron was escorted from the premises.

“The incident was handled within our standard procedures and due to privacy reasons, we are unable to provide further comment. At Crown Perth our priority remains keeping our guests, employees and the community safe.

“As trained professionals, our employees are entrusted to maintain a safe and enjoyable environment for customers and staff at all times, and will take necessary action to ensure these policies are abided by.”

After last year’s royal commission into Crown and its suitability to retain a casino licence, the company – now owned by US equity giant Blackstone after an $8.9bn takeover – adopted a zero-tolerance policy to evidence of impropriety or illegality.

Carey celebrates a win with his North Melbourne teammates in 1998.

As well as police-ordered bans and patron exclusion ­orders, Crown can impose a “withdrawal of licence” that prohibits a person from entering Crown casino properties.

Seven is currently locked in talks with AFL chiefs over an extension to its lucrative free-to-air TV rights contract.

Carey also writes for The Age newspaper and appears on Triple M Footy.

The Age editor Gay Alcorn said on Monday night: “We are aware of the story and will look into it in coming days.”

The seven-time All Australian made headlines last month after a verbal altercation with ex-teammate Anthony Stevens at a premiership reunion.

The flare-up came almost 20 years after it was revealed Carey had an affair with Stevens’ former wife Kellie in 2002.

Wayne Carey’s mug shot after his 2007 arrest in Miami.

Kate Neilson was in a turbulent three-year relationship with Carey.

In February, Carey’s past indiscretions resurfaced after he took part in Seven’s gruelling reality show SAS: Australia.

He was arrested for ­assaulting police following a 2007 incident in which his Ms Neilson was hit in the face with a wine glass in Miami.

Asked about the glassing incident during an interrogation, Carey insisted it was an accident.

While he admitted being mentally “abusive” and “intimidating” to past partners, he denied ever physically hurting a woman.

But Neilson, who now lives in LA, dismissed Carey’s version as nonsense, saying “he knows the truth” about the incident and their turbulent three-year relationship.

Originally published as Wayne Carey forced off air, banned from Crown after white powder saga