Australian regulator calls for new inquiry into Crown Resorts

Following the conclusion of an inquiry in New South Wales, now Western Australia’s regulator wants an inquiry into the operator’s suitability.

Australia.- A second Australian regulator has called for a new inquiry into Crown Resorts.

Earlier this week, New South Wales’ Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority deemed Crown unsuitable to hold its casino licence for its new Sydney casino.

Now the Gaming and Wagering Commission of Western Australia (GWC) wants an independent inquiry into the operator’s suitability to hold a licence for Crown Perth.

If the request is approved, the investigation will be undertaken by the Minister of Racing, Games and Liquors and would follow similar lines to that undertaken in New South Wales by Commissioner Patricia Bergin in New South Wales.

The GWC commended Bergin’s inquiry but said that according to advice received from the Western Australia State’s Solicitor’s Office it “could not rely on the Bergin Inquiry to make findings in relation to Crown Perth”.

Crown Perth is one of the two casinos in Australia currently run by Crown, alongside Crown Melbourne. The operator’s Crown Sydney development was to be its third but its opening is on hold following the ILGA’s verdict on Crown’s suitability.

GWC has also ratified a ban on all junket operations at Crown Perth, although it noted there had been limited opportunity for junkets to operate in Western Australia during the Covid-19 pandemic.