The head of Australia's largest gambling group has blamed activists with an "anti-Crown agenda" for exposing scandals about money laundering, heavying Government to fast-track visas for foreign VIPs and doing business with junket operators linked to Asian crime gangs.

Key points: Crown chief executive John Alexander says the casino operator has been a victim of sensationalist, unproven claims made by activists

Crown chief executive John Alexander says the casino operator has been a victim of sensationalist, unproven claims made by activists Mr Alexander said Crown does not tolerate any illegal activity by its employees or its patrons

Mr Alexander said Crown does not tolerate any illegal activity by its employees or its patrons Directors facing re-election at the Crown AGM all faced substantial protest votes from shareholders

Crown executive chairman John Alexander told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting (AGM) in Melbourne media outlets had published accounts from whistleblowers that could not be verified.

"There have been a number of sensationalist and unproven claims made, with many focused on allegations from over five years ago," Mr Alexander said.

"Let me be clear, Crown does not tolerate any illegal activity by its employees or its patrons.

"Crown has no interest in being used by those who seek to do the wrong thing … I do acknowledge that these sensationalist allegations have raised some concerns amongst our stakeholders … I can personally assure you we are taking these matters seriously."

Years of controversy

The meeting cemented Crown Resorts' reputation as one of Australia's most secretive companies.

There was no webcam of the meeting, no pictures or recordings inside it.

Shareholder activist Stephen Mayne asked: "Will there be a transcript?"

"No," was the quick answer from Mr Alexander.

Crown is currently being probed by federal regulators and watchdogs in three states, after scandals exposed by Channel Nine. It caps a horror few years for the gambling giant.

In 2016, Chinese authorities detained almost 20 Crown employees for promoting gambling — a crime in China.

Three Australians spent almost a year in jail. The following year, Crown offloaded its Macau casino and retreated from Asian expansion plans.

Then, allegations of poker machine tampering and rampant drug use at the company's flagship Melbourne casino.

Despite Mr Alexander blasting the allegations at that year's AGM, the casino went on to pay a record $300,000 fine for the tampering issue.

In 2018, James Packer retreated from the board, citing mental health issues.

This year, he went further, selling his controlling stake to Lawrence Ho for $1.8 billion.

But there's a hitch. Mr Ho is the son of controversial Macau gambling kingpin Stanley Ho. When New South Wales authorities approved the massive Barangaroo development they included a specific clause preventing links to Stanley Ho.

Then, explosive allegations from Channel Nine, that Crown was pressuring the government to fast-track visas for foreign VIPs, doing business with junket operators linked to Asian crime gangs, and failing to prevent money laundering.

The company hit back at the allegations with full-page newspaper ads blasting them as unfounded.

'Operational oversight'

Anti-gambling campaigner Tim Costello asked the board if they regretted following the same template as when the 2017 poker machine tampering allegations arose — taking full-page ads blasting them as false.

"You later paid a record $300,000 fine. Do you regret that?" Reverend Costello asked.

"Do you agree that the $300,000 fine means that vehement denials lack credibility about subsequent allegations?"

"No, I don't regret making those denials," Mr Alexander said.

"The [tampering] was an operational oversight mistake. I don't regret making that statement".

All directors were returned, but not without incident.

Harold Mitchell is currently being pursued by regulator ASIC and answered questions with a vehement denial of any wrongdoing, while Helen Coonan is a director of another ASX-listed company, the chair of four others and a director and ambassador at others. All received substantial protest votes.

After issues exposed in banking, Reverend Costello appealed to the board to be a leader in the field of gaming.

"You're aiming to be the gold-plate standard leader in gaming," he said.

"To lead, at this moment, have you considered saying, 'Lets have a royal commission, not just into Crown, but into gambling?'"

Unsurprisingly, the chair declined.