The Royal Commission into Crown Perth has heard that Western Australia\u2019s Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC) put Crown Perth\u2019s financial interest before public interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Australia.- During the latest sessions of public hearings,\u00a0Western Australia\u2019s Royal Commission<\/strong>\u00a0has heard\u00a0<\/strong>that the GWC favoured Crown Perth instead of considering what was better for the community when it allowed the casino operator to introduce changes to electronic gaming machines (EGMs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the WA Royal Commission,\u00a0the GWC let Crown Perth change its EGMs<\/strong>\u00a0to resemble pokies. Former GWC chair Duncan Ord<\/strong> said that the casino was struggling financially when it approached the gambling regulator in March 2019 and asked for permission to accelerate the machines’ speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ord said\u00a0the casino operator had made it clear that it was in financial difficulties<\/strong> that could have led to layoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Patricia Cahill SC<\/strong>, the counsel assisting the Royal Commission, stated Crown Perth wanted to increase the speed of EGMs in order to increase similarities with poker machines and increase profits. The Royal Commission has concluded\u00a0<\/strong>that the regulator didn’t seek the advice of specialists\u00a0<\/strong>on the potential effects the changes on gambling harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some experts say\u00a0EGMs can be just as addictive as pokies\u00a0<\/strong>(slots), which have been banned in Western Australia since 1985. EGMs are only allowed at Crown Perth<\/a>, which has 2,500 of the machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to financial reports,\u00a0WA gamblers have spent AU$306m on EGMs this year<\/strong>, up 50 per cent when compared to the previous year.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Western Australia’s Royal Commission into Crown Perth has also analysed how the\u00a0GWC carried out its duties<\/a>\u00a0in relation to Crown\u2019s casino. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In May,\u00a0Duncan Ord<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>admitted he had\u00a0no formal training in casino regulation\u00a0<\/strong>before assuming the role, while former GWC member\u00a0Barry Sargeant<\/a>\u00a0said the regulator lacked policies or procedures for dealing with the risks of criminal activity at Crown Resorts.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe GWC under the spotlight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n