State’s gambling commission says the fine for not seeking approval to hide certain buttons is the largest it has issued to the company

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Crown has been fined $300,000 by Victoria’s gambling regulator over the gambling giant’s tampering with poker machines.

The action followed a trial run at the casino for three and a half weeks during March and April 2017, when certain buttons were hidden on 17 gaming machines so that only minimum and maximum betting options were available.

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In a statement on Friday, the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation said the actions varied certain gaming machines and therefore the move had required its approval.

“Crown’s failure to obtain approval means it has contravened the Gambling Regulation Act 2003,” it said.

“This is the largest fine the commission has issued to Crown and reflects the seriousness with which it considers the matter.”

The commission accepted the contravention was not deliberate and Crown fully co-operated with its probe.

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In a statement, Crown Resorts Ltd said the trial did not affect the return-to-player ratio.

“While Crown Melbourne’s position throughout this process was that the gaming machine trial did not require the prior approval of the commission, Crown Melbourne respects the commission’s decision, which brings this process to a close,” it said.

The commission also asked Crown to provide an updated compliance framework within six months and explain how it will prevent a similar matter happening again.

Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie, who took a former casino employee’s concerns to parliament, welcomed the finding, but said the fine was not enough given the severity of the misconduct.

“This is a very serious offence for which Crown should stand condemned,” he said.

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“However, I do not accept Crown’s explanation that this was only a trial, because there is an abundance of evidence that the practice has been more widespread.”

Wilkie said other allegations he raised remain unresolved and he hopes the commission can make findings on these as more evidence emerges.

Wilkie said he continues to be approached by whistleblowers alleging serious misconduct at Crown, and will raise this with regulators and police when appropriate.

“I expect the commission and the police to diligently probe these matters. It would be completely unacceptable to the community if they take the casino’s explanations at face value or continue to hand out slap-on-the-wrist fines,” he said.