Crown Resorts has been fined AUS$2m by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) for over 200 self-exclusion breaches that took place during an eight-month period at its Melbourne location.
In a statement, the VGCCC said that between October 2023 and May 2024, Crown Melbourne allowed 242 people who had self-excluded from gambling to place bets at the casino. These self-exclusion breaches were detected through the commission’s ongoing monitoring of the casino’s operations.
Through its investigations, the VGCCC determined that the breaches were “due to system and control failures rather than deliberate or egregious disregard by Crown of its regulatory obligations”.
Fran Thorn, Chair of the VGCCC, commented: “It is an offence under the Casino Control Act 1991 (Vic) to allow an excluded person, including anyone who has self-excluded, to enter, remain or gamble in the casino. It also contravenes Crown Melbourne’s obligation to protect people at risk of gambling harm.
“Those who self-exclude must be able to trust that gambling providers will take all reasonable steps to enforce their decision to avail themselves of this harm prevention initiative.
“By allowing people who have self-excluded to enter the casino and gamble, Crown has put them at risk of experiencing further gambling harm. However, it is also clear that a number of these self-excluded patrons are going to considerable lengths to avoid detection and break their exclusion requirements.”
Thorn continued: “Accordingly, the Commission has issued a direction to Crown to engage an independent expert to assess the effectiveness of, and make recommendations for improving, the management of its self-exclusion program.
“In due course, Crown will be required to implement the independent expert’s recommendations.”
The VGCCC noted that earlier this year in April, Crown Melbourne was told to “implement a transformation plan to continue its reform and remediation following the findings of the Finkelstein Royal Commission”.
The commission also acknowledged that Crown Resorts “has taken some steps to strengthen its controls for policing exclusion orders, and introduced measures to improve its monitoring activities, physical security, use of technology and training of staff”.
Thorn added: “The VGCCC is committed to ensuring Crown continues its reform efforts.”
