Crown to face Western Australia inquiry
The Western Australia (WA) Government has announced an inquiry into Crown Resorts to investigate whether the operator is fit enough to hold its licence to run the Burswood casino in Perth.
It comes after an inquiry in New South Wales deemed Crown unfit to hold the licence at its new casino in Sydney, due to money laundering and junket operators who brought in high-rolling gamblers with links to organised crime.
WA’s Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC) said the inquiry will have the powers of a royal commission, and has been called after the head casino regulator at its gaming authority stood aside following reports of his personal associations with Crown Perth staff.
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries deputy director-general Michael Connolly last week stood down from his role as the GWC’s chief casino officer after reports he went fishing with Crown employees.
Crown has since announced it will “fully co-operate in relation to this inquiry and will continue to engage with the WA Commission in relation to its reform agenda and any further remedial steps identified in response to the NSW ILGA Inquiry.”
The operator’s executive chairman Helen Coonan commented: “Crown is determined to play a constructive role with all of its regulators as it works to restore public and regulatory confidence in its operations.”
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