Crown Melbourne Receives AU$120 million fine

The Crown Casino is hit with a mega fine of 120 million Australian dollars. The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) is imposing this record breaking fine due the Crown Casino´s failure in meeting the responsible gaming and anti-money laundering standards. Last month the Star Casino in Sydney received a sort like fine of a hundred million Australian dollars.

This fine is the second one for 2022, in May this year the VGCCC already issues a fine of AU$80 million for the acceptance and illegal use of the China´s Union Pay cards for gambling purposes in the Melbourne based crown casino.

The latest fine of 120 million dollars is due to the breach of two serious cases. The first one is about not respecting responsible gaming guidelines: “breached its code of conduct for the Responsible Service of Gambling over many years by consistently failing to intervene to prevent gambling harm, allowing customers to often gamble for long periods without a break, sometimes for more than 24 hours.” Says the VGCCC.

“For a long time, Crown failed in its legal and moral obligation to ensure it provided its gambling products and services in a manner which minimised potential harm to its patrons, their families, friends and communities. The record fines totalling $120 million that we have imposed on Crown today will send a powerful message to Crown that the Commission will not tolerate misconduct that exposes our community to increased risks of gambling related harm.

Besides responsible gaming, the Crown Casino Melbourne also failed in anti-money laundering procedures.

Just like The Star casino, The Crown can stay open under supervision of a special manager appointed by the VGCCC. By doing so, the casinos can stay open which prevents thousands of employees losing their jobs.