Crown Resorts hit by €187k fine for tampered pokies

The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR) slapped Australian-listed casino operator Crown Resorts Ltd. with a record €187K fine over the tampered poker machines in its Melbourne casino.

The fine is related to the poker machine tampering in Crown’s Melbourne casino, where the firm blanked buttons on 17 poker machines during early 2017.

“Crown Resort’s failure to obtain approval [to alter pokies] means it has contravened the Gambling Regulation Act 2003,” the VCGLR said, explaining: “This is the largest fine the commission has issued to Crown and reflects the seriousness with which it considers the matter.”

From a total of 2,628 poker machines in the casino 17 were the target of the investigation regarding modifications to the regulated options they are supposed to offer. Crown Resorts initially denied all accusations but then confessed tampering the machines.

“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,” Crown said in a statement.

Source: focusgn.com