Australia
Crown Approved to Retain its Melbourne Licence
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has ruled Australian casino giant Crown Resorts can keep its Crown Melbourne casino licence.
The full Commission decided that Crown Melbourne has addressed the failings identified by the 2021 Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence.
Commission Chair Fran Thorn said that the Royal Commission detailed how Crown Melbourne had breached its legal, social and moral obligations, resulting in illegal activities, tax avoidance, money laundering, criminal associations and significant harm to vulnerable community members, ultimately finding Crown Melbourne unsuitable to hold the Melbourne Casino Licence.
“Despite the enormity of its findings, the Finkelstein Royal Commission recommended Crown be permitted to continue operating under stringent independent oversight conditions for two years, determining it had the will and capacity to transform itself to again become suitable, which would be to Victoria’s benefit,” she said.
The Victorian Government responded decisively to the Royal Commission’s findings, appointing a Special Manager to oversee Crown Melbourne’s operations and remediation. It also established the VGCCC as a new regulator focussed solely on the gambling industry and created a specific set of enhanced powers with respect to the Melbourne casino.
The Commission was given the responsibility of deciding whether it was clearly satisfied that Crown Melbourne had returned to suitability and whether the Melbourne Casino Licence remained in the public interest. In making its independent determination, the Commission carefully considered the reports of the Royal Commission and other relevant inquiries, the reports of the Special Manager. Those reports considered the steps Crown Melbourne had taken to address the matters identified by the Royal Commission and the measures to ensure they would not be repeated.
Commissioner Thorn said the Special Manager’s final report concluded that Crown Melbourne has remediated the failings exposed in the Royal Commission and established the critical foundations needed to achieve sustainable overall transformation in coming years.
“There was no evidence of maladministration or illegal or improper conduct indicative of the serious and systemic failures previously identified by the Royal Commission, and these failings had been addressed,” she said.
Commissioner Thorn said that Crown Melbourne had demonstrated to the satisfaction of both the Commission and the Special Manager that it had introduced extensive reforms to prevent or reduce gambling harm, financial crime and money laundering. It has also addressed systemic risk management failures and strengthened its integrity framework.
“During our investigations, we observed a different Crown Melbourne emerging with a clear understanding of the privilege and obligations of holding the Melbourne Casino Licence,” she said.
The Commission’s decision was also supported by Crown Melbourne’s comprehensive transformation plan, required by the Special Manager, against which it will continue to be held accountable going forward.
“That transformation plan will be at the heart of our oversight, along with Crown’s legal and social obligations, and provides the next level standard for Crown Melbourne. The Commission will require Crown Melbourne to deliver further transformation through a statutory direction that will be issued shortly,” she said.
Along with the VGCCC’s strengthened oversight regime and enforcement powers, the VGCCC has established a new, specialist Casino Division providing confidence that Crown Melbourne will be held stringently accountable in the future, including for its ongoing transformation.
Commissioner Thorn said: “In return for the privilege of an exclusive licence, Victorians have a right to expect that Crown Melbourne will never again prioritise profit ahead of the safety and wellbeing of its patrons and staff or over compliance with its legal and social obligations.
“Crown Melbourne must continue to seek to rebuild and earn public trust by demonstrating the good character, honesty and integrity that are necessary to remain a suitable casino operator. We put Crown on notice that this Commission will not hesitate to act if the privilege of holding the casino licence is again abused.”
Australia
Crown Reinstated at Sydney Casino
The NSW Independent Casino Commission has found Crown Sydney suitable to retain its casino licence after nearly three years of intensive remediation.
Chief Commissioner, Philip Crawford, said Crown has come a long way and must now demonstrate its long-term commitment to maintaining suitability.
“The NICC is confident the Crown we deemed suitable today has a strong model to keep operating into the future,” Mr Crawford said.
The NICC’s suitability assessment established that Crown Sydney has fundamentally reformed its business and is operating the casino within the objects of the Act, the requirements of the suitability deed, and in compliance with its regulatory obligations.
In addition to proving it can run the casino lawfully, Crown has remediated its business in other meaningful ways such as building a culture of transparency and accountability across its integrated resort.
“Hard work and transformation aside, the NICC has not forgotten the level of misconduct exposed in 2021 when Crown was found unsuitable,” said Mr Crawford.
“Crown Sydney has ongoing work to reach steady state and it must continue to lift standards and maintain its cultural transformation.
“There is and will always be room for improvement, but Crown is a changed business that is looking toward the future.
“Likewise, the NICC is a changed regulator with enhanced powers, a singular focus on casinos, and a mandate to address the risks of harm.
“This decision is a positive outcome for Crown Sydney, its staff, and the community – who can be sure the NICC will use all of its powers to keep the casino in check.”
In addition to the implementation of hundreds of new internal controls, the Bergin-based reforms have been reflected in a new licence and new regulatory agreement between Crown Sydney, the NSW Government and the NICC.
These agreements include updated settings, such as the removal of fetters to the NICC’s powers, as well as previous compensation trigger clauses that are no longer part of the casino legislation.
Mr Crawford said: “Crown cannot disregard the responsibility and privilege that comes with holding a casino licence. Crown Sydney’s ability to provide a destination hospitality and entertainment venue underpinned by the restricted gaming facility is contingent on its steadfast commitment to continuing suitability, accountability and compliance.”
Australia
Tabcorp Partners with OpenBet’s Sportsbook Technology to Propel Growth and Enhance User Experience
OpenBet’s robust betting engine and sophisticated trading system to enhance Australian operator’s user experience and operational efficiencies
OpenBet, a leading content, platform and service provider to the sports betting industry, has been selected to supply its scalable betting engine and advanced trading system to Australian wagering giant Tabcorp as the tier-one operator pursues ambitious growth plans.
OpenBet will integrate a series of online and retail products including its fixed-odds betting platform and trading system for its world-class content portfolio to help amplify the offering for Tabcorp’s flagship brand, TAB.
Underpinned by a dedicated excellence team working with TAB for continuous development and innovation, OpenBet’s pioneering technology and services will provide improved agility, scalability and speed-to-market for new and differentiated products that will redefine the TAB user experience. Tabcorp will also benefit from enhanced operational efficiency and streamlined processes through OpenBet’s proven solutions.
As Australia’s largest gaming and betting operator, Tabcorp has a rich history of providing market-leading products to its customers. With more than 3,000 employees, the company continues to grow and aims to further increase its market share over the coming years.
OpenBet’s expertise in operating within some of the world’s strictest regulated markets was a major factor in Tabcorp’s decision in selecting the company as its latest technology provider. Integrating OpenBet’s globally respected platform and products within Tabcorp’s technology ecosystem comprising of proprietary capabilities across trading, digital experience and data is a perfect fit for market leading innovation, enhanced operational capability and delivering an unparalleled user experience to Tabcorp’s customers.
This deal strengthens OpenBet’s reputation as a trusted provider to the global sports betting industry. It currently processes almost half of all digital sports bets placed in the Australian market and with this deal will significantly increase that and, for the first time, bring our retail sports betting capability to Australia. Coupled with Tabcorp’s clear progress on accelerating its transformation and innovation with a focus on agility, product delivery and customer experience, this has the ingredients for a great partnership.
“Being selected by Tabcorp to augment its user experience is an exciting move for us and further cements our position as a trusted provider of robust, hybrid products that drive growth,” the Chief Commercial Officer for OpenBet, Cathryn Lai, said. “We’re looking forward to working alongside the TAB team and providing it with tailored products and services that will usher in a new era for its sportsbook offering. We have no doubt that the operator’s customer base will benefit from an enhanced experience through our unbeatable technology and trading services.”
“We’re thrilled to be strategically partnering with OpenBet to enable our growth ambitions and beyond,” the Trading General Manager for Tabcorp, David Beirne, said. “The combined strengths of Tabcorp’s category expertise and internal capabilities and OpenBet’s advanced core creates a market leading relationship that will lead to increased customer engagement, market share and sustainable profitability.
“This partnership will propel Tabcorp’s trading capabilities to the top of the market as it will allow Tabcorp to utilise OpenBet’s cutting-edge technology to deliver a first-class digital and retail experience for our customers at pace in exciting and innovative ways.
“This partnership is a significant step forward in modernising and supporting our ambitious plans to deliver the next generation sports betting user journey.”
Australia
Venues Warned to Play by the Rules on ANZAC Day
Liquor & Gaming NSW is urging licensed venues across the state to plan ahead and have proper measures in place to ensure safe and responsible ANZAC Day commemorations.
Pubs and clubs can face additional challenges on April 25 that come with managing larger than normal crowds and the playing of two-up.
Two-up was a popular game among World War I veterans and, while illegal as an unregulated form of gambling most of the year, is legally played every ANZAC Day, Remembrance Day and Victory in the Pacific Day in their memory.
Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations, Jane Lin, said inspectors would carry out checks of licensed premises in Sydney and regional areas on ANZAC Day to ensure compliance with the state’s liquor and gaming laws.
“Two-up is a great Australian tradition and a way for people to come together at pubs and clubs to enjoy the ANZAC spirit,” Lin said. “While venues do not need a permit to host two-up, they are encouraged to fully understand and observe the traditional rules of the coin-tossing game.
“Licensed venues are reminded to properly manage potential risks linked to larger crowds, increased rates of intoxication, gambling disputes, extended high volume trading and special ANZAC Day liquor promotions.”
Venues’ advertising and promotions must align with liquor promotion guidelines.
More information about ANZAC Day in New South Wales is available at https:/ /www.NSM.gov. au/about-nsw/anzac-day-nsw. Two-up rules can be found at https:/ /www.LiquorAndGaming.nsw. gov. au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/858562/fs3098-two-up-factsheet. pdf.
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