Crown inquiry LIVE updates: Sydney’s Crown Barangaroo casino not suitable to hold licence, Bergin report finds

Author: Live Casino Direct
 
Crown inquiry LIVE updates: Sydney’s Crown Barangaroo casino not suitable to hold licence, Bergin report finds

NSW government tabled the report of the Bergin inquiry into Sydney's second casino licence. The licence is held by Crown Resorts, which opened its new $2.2 billion complex in Barangaroo in December.

The report of the Bergin inquiry into Sydney's second casino licence was tabled today. The licence is held by Crown Resorts, which opened its new $2.2 billion complex in Barangaroo in December.

Crown's subsidiary, Crown Sydney Gaming, is not suitable to hold the casino licence. Commissioner Patricia Bergin found evidence of money laundering at its Melbourne and Perth casinos, the arrest of 19 staff in China in 2016 and partnerships with tour operators linked to organised crime. She did not recommend Crown be stripped of its licence or forced to sell its controlling stake in Crown Resorts.

Crown's subsidiary Crown Sydney Gaming is not suitable to hold the casino licence. Commissioner Bergin found evidence of money laundering at its Melbourne and Perth casinos and partnerships with tour operators linked to organised crime. The companies could engage in a process of "conversion to suitability" which would include a shakeup of the board and a forensic audit of their accounts.

NSW government has tabled a report into Crown Resorts' Barangaroo casino licence. The report found Crown Sydney Gaming is not suitable to hold Sydney’s second casino license. It also found that Crown's parent company Crownresorts was not a suitable person to be a close associate of the company. Federal MP Andrew Wilkie wants Crown to face similar inquiries over its casino licences in Western Australia and Victoria. WA gambling regulator won't consider the NSW report until it meets in two weeks' time. Victoria's shadow minister for gaming wants an independent, judicial inquiry into whether Crown is still fit to have a licence for Melbourne.

Crown inquiry finds Crown Barangaroo casino not suitable to hold licence. Report recommends changing NSW's casino laws and setting up a specialist, independent casino regulator.