NEWS
16 December 2020
ILGA approves liquor licence at Crown’s Barangaroo casino
By Peter Lynch

The licence will allow Crown to serve alcohol at the Crown Sydney resort, which includes a number of bar areas.

ILGA chair Philip Crawford also announced that the authority is considering a further two liquor licences for other non-gaming areas of the casino.

Crown is currently the subject of multiple investigations over its failure to properly implement anti-money laundering controls related to junket rooms at its Melbourne casino.

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has launched an enforcement investigation into potential infringements of anti-money laundering laws, while the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation has issued a similar notice for Crown's alleged failures of internal junket controls.

The interim licence that has been issued has an end date of 30 April 2021, which will enable ILGA to consider any suitable concerns arising from the Bergin Inquiry, which will produce its findings in February 2021.

ILGA will then make a further decision regarding an extension to the licence.

Last month, the authority chose not to approve a range of regulatory items related to the new casino’s gaming activities prior to the release of the inquiry’s findings.

ILGA did, however, work with Crown to enable the opening of all non-gaming areas, which includes bars, restaurants, accommodation and entertainment areas.