Crown Melbourne has been fined $2 million for letting more than 200 people on self-exclusion lists place bets at the casino.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission penalised Crown after 242 people who had self-excluded from gambling made bets at the casino in the eight months to May 2024.It is an offence so allow an excluded person to enter, remain or gamble in a casino, commission chair Fran Thorn said on Tuesday.
Fran Thorn says Crown failed in its obligation to protect 242 people at risk of gambling harm. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
"It also contravenes Crown Melbourne's obligation to protect people at risk of gambling harm," Ms Thorn said."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."
The gambling watchdog detected the breaches through ongoing monitoring of Crown's operations, but were found to be due to system and control failures rather than a deliberate disregard for regulations.
The Commission said Crown's actions had put problem gamblers at risk, but noted some exclusion-listed punters had gone to "considerable lengths" to avoid detection and break exclusion requirements.
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The casino's gambling licence has been under scrutiny in recent years after the Finkelstein Royal Commission uncovered money laundering via a Crown subsidiary and organised crime-linked junkets at the casino.
The group has since been directed to implement a reform program.
Australian casinos have been on notice over the past 12 months, with South Australia increasing fines for bad operators 750-fold, Queensland passing new money laundering and gambling harm laws and NSW increasing taxes for casinos and poker machine venues.
Crown's gambling licence has been under scrutiny in recent years since the royal commission. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Crown will now have to engage an independent expert to assess its self-exclusion program."In due course, Crown will be required to implement the independent expert's recommendations," Ms Thorn said.
The Commission acknowledged Crown had taken steps to police its self-exclusion program, including improving monitoring activities, physical security, the use of technology and training of staff.
"The VGCCC is committed to ensuring Crown continues its reform efforts."