Gaming giant Crown has changed its ways enough after a series of scandals to keep operating its Melbourne casino, according to a watchdog.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission on Tuesday announced it was satisfied Crown is suitable to continue holding a casino licence.
This is despite a Victorian royal commission finding in 2021 that Crown’s conduct was ‘illegal, dishonest, unethical and exploitative’ but stopping short of suggesting the government strip its casino licence.
Crown Casino in Melbourne will continue to operate after a watchdog said it had met the conditions of a two-year probation
Crown was instead given two years to reform after the commission headed by former Federal Court judge Ray Finkelstein QC.
A special monitor was appointed to report to the regulator before it decided whether the company was suitable to hold the licence.
‘The commission considers the issues identified by the royal commission have been comprehensively addressed,’ commission chair Fran Thorn said.
Ms Thorn said Crown had created a Melbourne transformation plan that will form the commission’s ongoing oversight through a statutory declaration of the casino and its legal and social obligations.
‘In return for the privilege of an exclusive licence, Victorians have the right to expect Crown Melbourne will never again prioritise profit ahead of the safety and wellbeing of its patrons and staff,’ Ms Thorn said.
‘Crown must continue to seek to rebuild and earn public trust by demonstrating its good character, honesty and integrity.’
US private equity giant Blackstone acquired Crown for $8.9 billion in June 2022, ending billionaire James Packer’s control of the company.
Following separate inquiries in Victoria, NSW and Western , Crown has been fined $700 million for breaches including wrongly claiming tax deductions and flouting responsible gambling laws.
Crown is Victoria’s largest single site employer and has around 11,500 people on its books
The biggest fine came when Crown agreed to pay the n Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre $450m for failing to comply with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws.
Crown employs more than 20,000 people nationwide, with about 11,500 workers based in Melbourne, making it Victoria’s largest single-site private employer.