The Western Australian administration has initiated an investigation into Crown Resorts to ascertain the company’s eligibility to retain its casino permit in Burswood, Perth.
This action follows an inquiry in New South Wales that deemed Crown unsuitable to hold the license for its recently established Sydney casino. The inquiry highlighted Crown’s alleged participation in illicit financial activities and its associations with junket organizers who cater to high-stakes gamblers connected to criminal syndicates.
Western Australia’s Gaming and Wagering Commission (GWC) declared that the investigation would possess the authority of a Royal Commission. This determination follows the temporary removal of the Commission’s primary casino official due to disclosures of a private connection with Crown Perth personnel.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Sport and Recreation, Michael Connolly, purportedly stepped down from his position as the GWC’s lead casino official the previous week after accounts emerged of his participation in fishing excursions with Crown staff.
Crown Resorts has indicated its intention to “collaborate fully with the inquiry and maintain engagement with the Western Australian Commission regarding its reformation plan and any supplementary corrective measures in response to the findings of the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority inquiry.”
Helen Coonan, Crown’s Executive Chairman, conveyed, “Crown is resolute in its commitment to assuming a productive role with all its regulatory bodies as it endeavors to reinstate public and regulatory trust in its operations.”
