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Crown Melbourne has been fined $2 million for allowing 242 excluded punters to place bets at its casino, although the casino regulator notes that gamblers are getting crafty at avoiding detection.
The self-exclusion breaches, which occurred over eight months from October 2023 and May 2024, were detected through the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission’s (VGCCC) monitoring of the casino’s operations.
However, the commission determined the breaches were due to “system and control failures rather than deliberate or egregious disregard by Crown of its regulatory obligations”.
“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,” says VGCCC chair Fran Thorn.
“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.”
The VGCCC has issued a direction to Crown to engage an independent expert to assess the effectiveness of its self-exclusion program and to make recommendations for improving its implementation.
“In due course, Crown will be required to implement the independent expert’s recommendations,” says Thorn.
The VGCCC earlier this year directed Crown Melbourne to implement a transformation plan to continue its reform and remediation following the findings of the Finkelstein Royal Commission.
The 2021 Royal Commission not only found evidence of criminal activity and money laundering but also shortfalls in gambling harm minimisation and claims that Crown Melbourne had underpaid casino tax.
The VGCCC has acknowledged that Crown 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.
“The VGCCC is committed to ensuring Crown continues its reform efforts,” says Thorn.
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